Experts from a US-based research agency believe that North Korea is expanding an important weapons manufacturing facility. Analysis of satellite images showed the factory produces a short-range missile that Russia is using in the war in Ukraine.
The British news agency Reuters reported this news in a report.
The weapons factory known as the February 11 plant is one of North Korea's most important weapons factories. It belongs to the Ryongsong Machine Complex located in the city of Hamhung on the east coast of North Korea.
According to Sam Lair, an assistant researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) in the United States, this is the only facility where Hwasong-11 class solid-fuel ballistic missiles are manufactured. In the western world it is known as KN-23.
Ukrainian officials claim that Russian forces are using these missiles against Ukraine.
Satellite images taken by Planet Labs in October this year showed a new assembly building being constructed inside the factory. Besides, a new residential building for the staff is also under construction.
According to CNS analysts, development work is also underway at the factory's underground entrances. An old crane has been removed and the entrance opened, indicating that the facility is being expanded. Which was not seen in previous images.
The new building is expected to be about 60 to 70 percent larger than the previous building. Researcher Sam Lair said, “We think that the production capacity of this factory is being greatly increased.”
However, Russia and North Korea have always denied supplying weapons to the Ukraine war. A bilateral military agreement was signed in June 2023 to expand military ties between the two countries.
In 2023, a photo released by North Korean state media shows Kim Jong Un visiting this factory in Hamhung. The images show the tail kit and nose cone of the KN-23 missile being built.
Lair said Ryongsong Machine Complex has in the past produced a variety of military equipment, from tank wheels to rocket motor casings.
The expansion raises new questions about Russia's and North Korea's arms relations.
North Korea's UN mission did not respond to questions from Reuters.
North Korea's KN-23 missile was first test-fired in May 2019. The missile can penetrate air defenses at a very low altitude. According to experts, this could be very effective for Russia to evade Ukraine's air defense system.
Russia has fired hundreds of thousands of missiles since attacking Ukraine. Sam Lair said additional supplies from North Korea would ease pressure on Russia's own production system.
North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported that construction on the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung is progressing rapidly. The company is proceeding this year with restructuring of production facilities and installation of equipment in machine and steel casting workshops to meet modernization targets.
South Korea's SI Analytics analyzed satellite imagery using artificial intelligence to show new construction near the February 11 plant. In a report released on Monday, the company said some construction near the loading area may be designed to hide future operations from satellite view.
The report also noted that the presence of a large number of construction materials, vehicles and open-top freight trains around the site indicated that work was progressing at a fast pace.
The KCNA report hinted at future plans, saying the factory works to manufacture ballistic missiles. However, the name of the KN-23 missile was not mentioned directly.
This construction and weapons production is another big proof of North Korea-Russia military cooperation. It has also raised new concerns about global security.
