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North Korea Ramps Up Missile Production With New Automated Plant, Fueling Threats to Ukraine
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
North Korea has inaugurated a new missile factory equipped with automated assembly lines, a development that could expand the country’s missile arsenal and increase supplies available for Russia’s strikes against Ukraine.
According to Defense Express on September 1, North Korean state media reported that the facility was presented to Kim Jong Un during his recent visit. During the event, three separate plans for expanding missile production were signed.
The new production lines are described as fully automated systems designed to handle material preparation, precision processing, and assembly of missile components.
State media claimed that this approach would not only increase output but also improve product quality, a notable challenge for North Korea’s defense industry.
North Korea has already transferred multiple KN-23 missiles to Russia, which have been used in strikes on Ukrainian cities. Analysts suggest that revenues or technology from these transfers may have helped Pyongyang expand its missile production capacity.
While it is possible that Russia could continue receiving older missile models, the modernization of North Korea’s manufacturing process indicates that more advanced systems may also become available for export. According to analysts cited by Defense Express, this development increases security concerns not only for Ukraine but also for Japan, South Korea, the United States, and European countries.
The expansion underscores the importance of strengthening missile defense capabilities, including systems such as Patriot PAC-3 MSE, to counter potential threats from North Korean and Russian cooperation.
Earlier, Russia launched a training program for North Korean geologists on uranium exploration, organized by Urangeo and Irkutsk National Research Technical University, while international watchdogs warned of renewed nuclear activity at Yongbyon.
