North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the production of tactical guided weapons at a major munitions factory on Saturday, instructing officials to expand capacity by 2.5 times, state media reported. He toured updated production areas and highlighted deficiencies in the assembly process.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a major munitions factory on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and toured its technologically updated production areas to assess the state of modernization, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday without disclosing the factory's location or name.
Kim pointed out lingering "deficiencies" in the modernization of the assembly process and instructed officials to reexamine overall plans for the construction and modernization of munitions enterprises this year. He stressed the need for more innovative planning and rational systems to establish a flexible manufacturing system.
"Munitions industry should conduct economic organization and direct production and technical upgrading in a scrupulous way so as to suit ... the present situation where the current munitions production and the modernization project should be pushed ahead with simultaneously," Kim noted.
The leader stated that the country's tactical guided weapons system possesses sufficient military value to replace its multiple launch rocket system in the future, announcing plans to equip major military units with the weapon starting in the first half of this year. He underscored the need to expand current production capacity by about 2.5 times to meet demands from the defense ministry and the General Staff for military equipment.
"He stressed the need to pay deep attention to improving the quality of products under contract," the KCNA said.
This inspection highlights ongoing efforts to bolster North Korea's military capabilities amid regional tensions.
