North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signaled the country will continue to develop missiles in the next five years, as he visited major munitions enterprises in the last quarter of 2025, state media KCNA said on Friday.
Kim said "the country's missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering war deterrent," according to KCNA.
Kim ratified draft documents for the modernization of major munitions enterprises to be submitted to a key party congress expected to be held in early 2026, KCNA said, which will set a development plan for North Korea for the next five years.
The KCNA report follows Thursday's reveal of Kim overseeing the construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine with his daughter, a potential heir, and the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles.
Also Read: Kim Jong Un slams US-South Korea nuclear submarine deal
On Thursday, Kim sharply criticized a new nuclear submarine agreement between the United States and South Korea, calling it a direct threat to regional security. The comments came as Kim inspected a domestic submarine facility and oversaw missile tests.
According to North Korean state media KCNA, Kim described the deal as an “offensive act severely violating [Pyongyang’s] security and maritime sovereignty.” He called the pact a “threat to security that must be countered” and signaled an urgent push to strengthen North Korea’s naval and nuclear capabilities.
During his inspection, Kim toured a facility where Pyongyang is developing an “8,700-tonnage nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine,” highlighting the country’s ambitions to modernize its naval forces.
