defense capabilities
\n SEOUL
\nNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has instructed factories making missile engines, artillery and other weapons to boost capacity as an important part of bolstering the country\u2019s defense capabilities, state media said on Sunday.
\nKim\u2019s inspections from Thursday to Saturday included the production of engines for strategic cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as shells for super large-caliber multiple-rocket launchers and transporter-erector-launchers, said state news agency KCNA.
\nHis unusual visits to multiple arms production facilities over several days come as Pyongyang pushes to develop various strategic and conventional weapons and holds prominent displays of a range of arms.
\nThe launchers Kim inspected are normally used to fire ballistic missiles.
\nNorth Korea has tested rocket launchers for larger caliber shells, advanced cruise missiles and last month its newest ballistic missiles, including a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile. Kim cited improved precision processing and modernized automation in the production of large-caliber multiple-rocket launcher shells, KCNA said.
\nHe called for the mass production of \u201cvarious kinds of cutting-edge strategic weapon engines… and thus make a great contribution to bringing about a revolution in developing new strategic weapons of our style,\u201d the agency said.
\nPhotos showed Kim firing different types of assault rifles, with fiery blasts coming off the muzzle as he took aim at a target that was out of frame.
\nCheong Seong-chang, an expert on North Korea\u2019s political strategy at the Sejong Institute near Seoul, said Kim is likely focused on modernization and technical innovation of weapons that will help with the export of arms to Russia.
\nMarking the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War on July 27, Pyongyang held a major military parade displaying its newest nuclear-capable missiles and attack and spy drones, with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and a senior Chinese official joining Kim in the reviewing stand.
\nAt a large defense exhibition, Kim gave Shoigu a tour of the display of ballistic missiles and what appeared to be a new drone.
\nThe United States has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine, including a \u201csignificant\u201d number of artillery shells, as well as a shipment of infantry rockets and missiles to Russia\u2019s mercenary Wagner Group.
\nRussia and North Korea have denied those claims.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
defense capabilities SEOUL North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has instructed factories making missile engines, artillery and other weapons to boost capacity as an important part of bolstering the country\u2019s defense capabilities, state media said on Sunday. Kim\u2019s inspections from Thursday to Saturday included the production of engines for strategic cruise missiles and unmanned aerial […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-347585","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n