North Korea’s Kim orders more missile production in 2026: State media

SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to step up production of missiles and construct more factories to meet his military’s growing need for the projectiles, state media said on Dec 26.

Pyongyang has significantly increased missile testing in recent years.

Analysts say this is aimed at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States as well as South Korea, and testing weapons before potentially exporting them to Russia.

In a visit to munitions factories accompanied by top officials, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Mr Kim had ordered the factories to prepare for a busy year ahead.

Mr Kim said they would need “to further expand the overall production capacity” to keep pace with demand from Pyongyang’s armed forces and ordered the building of new munitions plants, KCNA reported.

“The missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering up the war deterrent,” the North Korean leader said.

North Korea and Russia have drawn closer since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, and

Pyongyang has sent troops to fight for Russia

, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.

In return, Russia is sending North Korea financial aid, military technology and food and energy supplies, analysts say.

Washington has also pointed to evidence that Russia is stepping up support for North Korea, including providing help on advanced space and satellite technology, in return for its assistance in fighting Ukraine.

Analysts say satellite launchers and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) share much of the same underlying technology.

“With its ICBM programme already at a stage widely seen as having achieved core objectives, Pyongyang is likely to further accelerate development next year,” said Dr Ahn Chan-il, a researcher originally from North Korea.

The country is likely to shift “focus toward testing and producing systems linked to potential exports to Russia – including medium- and intermediate-range missiles,” he added.

Nuclear-powered sub 

Mr Kim’s visit was reported a day after state media said he had toured a nuclear submarine factory, where he vowed to counter the “threat” of South Korea producing its own such vessels.

He also learnt about research into “new underwater secret weapons”, KCNA said.

North Korea is expected to “seek advanced military technologies from Russia, including nuclear-powered submarine capabilities and fighter jets, as it looks to address its air force’s relative weakness,” analyst Dr Ahn told AFP.

Mr Kim was reported on Dec 25 to have overseen the test launch of new-type high-altitude long-range anti-air missiles over the Sea of Japan.

And he said that “new modernisation and production plans” would be unveiled at his ruling Korean Workers Party’s first congress in half a decade, expected in early 2026. AFP