North Korean leader urges increased artillery shell production amid
alignment with Russia
[May 07, 2025]
By KIM TONG-HYUNG
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for
his munitions industry to boost the production of artillery shells,
state media said Wednesday, as the country continues to supply arms and
troops to support Russia’s war on Ukraine.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim, during
recent visits to unspecified munitions and machinery factories, praised
modernization efforts that the agency claimed enabled the facilities to
double their annual shell production capacity.
Kim urged workers to further accelerate artillery shell production,
calling it crucial to “strengthening the fighting efficiency” of his
armed forces, and also called for the development of more advanced
machinery to boost munitions output. KCNA did not mention any comments
from Kim regarding his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s
invasion of Ukraine.
Recent South Korean intelligence assessments suggest that North Korea
has sent about 15,000 soldiers to Russia, and that nearly 5,000 of them
have been killed or injured while fighting against Ukrainian forces.
Washington and Seoul have also accused North Korea of supplying Russia
with various types of military equipment, including artillery systems
and shells and ballistic missiles.
After denying its war involvement for months, North Korea last month
confirmed for the first time that it had sent combat troops to help
Russia in recapturing parts of the Kursk region, which had fallen to a
surprise Ukrainian incursion last year. Moscow also acknowledged the
North Korean involvement, with Putin issuing a statement thanking the
North for sending troops to support his forces and promising not to
forget their sacrifices.
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In this undated photo provided on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, by the
North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center,
visits a munitions factory in North Korea. Independent journalists
were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image
distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this
image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean
language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA"
which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean
Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
Analysts say North Korea’s official acknowledgment of its military
support for Russia is likely aimed at cementing a deeper, long-term
partnership with Moscow and securing greater compensation,
potentially including advanced military technology that could
enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear-armed forces.
By formalizing its role as a participant in the war, North Korea may
also be positioning itself to seek compensation in future
negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, according to a recent
report by the Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank
affiliated with South Korea’s intelligence agency.
In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers last month, South Korea’s
National Intelligence Service also said it believes that North Korea
has sent about 15,000 workers to Russia under bilateral industrial
cooperation programs.
While the value of North Korean artillery and missiles supplied to
Russia likely amounts to billions of dollars, there are no immediate
signs that Russia has provided direct cash payments in return, the
agency said. Instead, Russia has likely compensated North Korea with
air defense missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones and
technology for spy satellite launches, according to the assessment.
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