North Korean media have revealed a new missile production plant that was launched in the DPRK. Equipped with automated assembly lines, the facility should greatly increase the country's missile arsenal, according to the propagandists. This, in turn, opens a gateway for larger supplies of these weapons to russia for strikes on Ukraine, Defense Express reports.
The existence of this enterprise and its capacities were confirmed in a local media story about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting the factory. Alongside other matters on the agenda, the dictator signed three plans at once to increase missile production in the country.
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Any information coming from the state-controlled media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea should be viewed through the lens of reasonable skepticism, of course, since it's difficult to independently verify how much of these statements is true and not exaggerated.
Still, North Korean missiles have already been used against Ukraine many times, so there is no doubt about their danger and availability in the russian forces. Considering the background of previous contacts between Pyongyang and Moscow, it would not be out of place to assume that the funds and technologies for this industrial expansion were received from russia, too — as payment and an incentive to scale up production and improve products.
The most notable detail shown in the story is the utilization of an automated flow production system with specialized equipment for precise processing, measurement, and assembly of all components. As noted, it starts with raw material processing to assembling various details.
On top of speeding up the workflow, it ensures higher product quality. The latter, for a long time, has been a pain point for the North Korean industry, infamous for its unsatisfactory products.
Now North Korean weapons may become even more deadly, creating a greater threat in the region and far beyond: when supplied to russia, the strikes with such missiles on Ukraine will also become more dangerous. Though another scenario is also possible where DPRK decides to send old models while keeping the best new ones to itself.
To summarize, the improved automation of missile production in North Korea increases the threat to Japan, South Korea, the United States, Ukraine, and even the EU countries. An adequate and important response could be more investment in anti-ballistic missile defense systems and ramping up the production of effectors to feed these systems. Examples include the Patriot PAC-3 MSE, David's Sling… or European SAMP/T, albeit with a caveat.
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