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North Korea's Kim Jong Un calls for more shell production, KCNA says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 13, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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North Korea's Kim Jong Un calls for more shell production, KCNA says
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SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected military industrial factories, calling them to expand production of shells that meet modern warfare needs, state media KCNA said on Saturday.

Kim Jong Un Urges Expansion of Shell Production for Modern Warfare

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected military industrial factories, calling them to expand production of shells that meet modern warfare needs, state media KCNA said on Saturday. 

Kim visited lines for pressing metals and assembly on Friday, checked the progress of shell production in the first half of 2025, and suggested new tasks for improvement, KCNA said.

"If we are to increase the production of new, powerful shells of that meet the needs of... modern warfare, we need to expand and reinforce our production capacity, arrange the production process more rationally, and constantly increase the level of unmanned production," Kim said, according to KCNA. 

In recent months, Kim's publicised moves have focused on strengthening the military and improving ties with Russia, while North Korean state media has mostly stayed quiet on criticisms against South Korea as the latter picked a new liberal president this month. 

North Korea has supplied Russia with more than 20,000 containers of munitions, according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, a group comprising 11 UN members, in May.

(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Alistair Bell)

Key Takeaways

  • Kim Jong Un inspects military factories for shell production.
  • Focus on expanding production capacity for modern warfare.
  • North Korea strengthens military ties with Russia.
  • Kim suggests improvements in production processes.
  • North Korea supplied Russia with munitions recently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Kim Jong Un inspect during his recent visit?
Kim Jong Un inspected military industrial factories, focusing on expanding shell production to meet modern warfare needs.
What was the purpose of increasing shell production?
The purpose is to enhance North Korea's military capabilities by producing new, powerful shells that align with modern warfare requirements.
How has North Korea's relationship with Russia been characterized recently?
North Korea has been strengthening its military ties with Russia, supplying over 20,000 containers of munitions according to a recent report.
What did Kim suggest regarding production capacity?
Kim suggested that to increase shell production, North Korea needs to expand and reinforce its production capacity and improve the production process.
What has been the focus of North Korean state media recently?
North Korean state media has largely remained quiet on criticisms against South Korea, instead focusing on military strengthening and ties with Russia.

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