Kim orders North Korea to increase missile production by 2.5 times

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un has ordered a major defense industry company to increase its production capacity of ballistic and cruise missiles by two and a half times over the next five years.

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the organ of the ruling Workers' Party of North Korea, announced on Sunday that Kim issued the order during a visit to a major defense industry complex, where he inspected the production of key weapons systems in the first half of the year.

According to the report, the North Korean leader received a report on the program to increase missile production capacity during the visit and emphasized that expanding production is a fundamental mission to meet the significant increase in demand for these weapons.

Kim Jong-un also ordered officials to submit a plan to expand production capacity for consideration and approval at the upcoming session of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party.

He went on to praise the performance of the defense complex, saying that the main weapons production targets in the first half of the year were achieved ahead of schedule, and preparations for production in the second half of the year are also underway at a rapid pace.