Kim Jong Un Orders Massive Missile Production Boost for 2026, Deepening Russia Ties
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered a major expansion of missile production for 2026, state media reported. The move signals a deepening military alliance with Russia.
North Korea is gearing up for a busy 2026. On the production line: more missiles. According to state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to significantly ramp up missile production and construct new factories, a move that signals deepening military cooperation with key ally Russia.
Preparing for a 'Busy Year'
In a report on Friday, KCNA said Kim toured munitions factories with top officials and ordered them to "further expand the overall production capacity" to meet the demands of Pyongyang's armed forces. "The missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering up the war deterrent," Kim was quoted as saying.
The Deepening Alliance with Moscow
This directive comes as ties between North Korea and Russia have grown closer since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. Pyongyang is believed to have supplied Russia with artillery shells and missiles for the war. In return, analysts say, Russia is providing North Korea with financial aid, military technology, and essential supplies. Washington has pointed to evidence that Russia is helping Pyongyang with advanced space and satellite technology.
A Shift Towards Export-Oriented Weapons
Ahn Chan-il, a researcher from North Korea, told AFP that with its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program having achieved its core goals, Pyongyang is likely to shift focus. The country will likely accelerate the "testing and producing [of] systems linked to potential exports to Russia -- including medium- and intermediate-range missiles," he said. The news follows recent reports of Kim touring a nuclear submarine factory and overseeing the test of new anti-air missiles. New modernization plans are expected to be unveiled at the ruling party's congress in early 2026.
This content is AI-generated based on source articles. While we strive for accuracy, errors may occur. We recommend verifying with the original source.
Related Articles
With Syria gone and Iran in chaos after US-Israeli strikes and Khamenei's death, North Korea is left more isolated than ever — and more convinced its nuclear arsenal is non-negotiable.
Four years into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia's gamble for a multipolar world has produced something its architects didn't anticipate: a world reshaping itself around everyone but Russia.
Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on US military assets in the Middle East during the US-Israel war on Iran, but Washington downplays the threat as 'not concerning.
As Russia weakens from the Ukraine war, China expands its influence across Central Asia through energy deals and infrastructure investments, reshaping three decades of geopolitical balance.
With Syria gone and Iran in chaos after US-Israeli strikes and Khamenei's death, North Korea is left more isolated than ever — and more convinced its nuclear arsenal is non-negotiable.
Four years into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia's gamble for a multipolar world has produced something its architects didn't anticipate: a world reshaping itself around everyone but Russia.
Russia is providing Iran with intelligence on US military assets in the Middle East during the US-Israel war on Iran, but Washington downplays the threat as 'not concerning.
As Russia weakens from the Ukraine war, China expands its influence across Central Asia through energy deals and infrastructure investments, reshaping three decades of geopolitical balance.
Thoughts
Share your thoughts on this article
Sign in to join the conversation