Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has conducted inspections at several munitions factories, emphasizing the need for increased shell production to bolster the country’s military capabilities, as reported by state media on Wednesday. Kim’s visits focused on shell manufacturing and the current state of the machine-building industry, with a directive for a rapid increase in shell production to enhance the combat power of North Korea’s armed forces.

According to Anadolu Agency, during his field guidance at munitions enterprises under the Second Economy Commission, Kim expressed “great satisfaction” with the modernization of these facilities, noting that the shell production capacity had grown significantly. The shell output of these munitions enterprises has reportedly increased fourfold compared to the average annual level and nearly doubled the peak-year level.

Kim reiterated his expectation that the factories would continue to produce more shells to further expand the combat capabilities of North Korea’s armed forces. In addition to inspecting munitions factories, Kim visited a machine factory to discuss its modernization goals and the long-term development of the country’s machine-building industry.

He urged the machine factory to prioritize the development and production of “more intelligent, high-speed, precision, and multifunctional machine-building equipment” to strengthen both the munitions industry and other sectors of the national economy.