Kim Pushes for Artillery Surge as North Korea Deepens Ties with Russia

State media reported North Korean leader Kim Jong Un demanded his munitions industry to increase artillery shell production capacity during recent visits to military factories.

During multiple tours of undisclosed munitions and equipment factories North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed facility modernization progress which the Korean Central News Agency indicated delivered two times the annual shell manufacturing capability to the facilities. Kim demanded prompt speedups in artillery shell production since he declared the initiative essential for boosting his armed forces combat power and simultaneously demanded upgraded industrial equipment to energize munitions manufacturing capabilities. During his visit to the arms plant Kim Jong Un did not make any statements about his backing of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Ukraine invasion.

According to recent South Korean intelligence reports North Korea has deployed approximately 15,000 troops to Russia with confirmed losses totaling almost 5,000 who sustained wounds or deaths while engaging with Ukrainian military. Washington and Seoul have confirmed multiple reports that North Korea provides Russia with artillery systems as well as shells and ballistic missile deliveries. North Korea recently confirmed its first public acknowledgment of sending combat troops to help Russia reclaim the Kursk region it lost to Ukrainian forces a year earlier. The support sent by North Korean troops received official recognition from Moscow when Putin issued both gratitude and a promise to honor their sacrifices.

“The artillery elements of our defense must emerge as our armored defensive foundation which expresses absolute alliance backing. The development of our munitions industry stands essential both for our nation's defense needs as well as our international obligations with integrity combined with strategic value.” said Kim Jong Un.

While the value of North Korean artillery and missiles supplied to Russia likely amounts to billions of dollars, there are no immediate signs that Russia has provided direct cash payments in return, the agency said. Instead, Russia has likely compensated North Korea with air defense missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones and technology for spy satellite launches, according to the assessment.