Kim Jong Un Urges Increased Shell Production to Meet Modern Warfare Demands

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a significant expansion of the country’s artillery shell production to meet the demands of modern warfare, according to state media KCNA on Saturday.

During a visit to military industrial factories on Friday, Kim inspected metal pressing and assembly lines and reviewed shell production progress for the first half of 2025. He emphasized the need to ramp up output of new, more powerful munitions, underscoring the importance of efficiency and automation.

“If we are to boost the production of new, powerful shells that align with the requirements of modern warfare, we must expand and reinforce our production capacity, rationalize the production process, and raise the level of unmanned production,” Kim stated, as quoted by KCNA.

His visit reflects a continued focus on enhancing North Korea’s military capabilities amid deepening ties with Russia. In May, a UN Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team reported that North Korea had supplied Russia with over 20,000 containers of munitions, further fueling concerns over Pyongyang’s weapons manufacturing efforts.

While Kim has ramped up his military engagement and foreign diplomacy—particularly with Moscow—North Korean state media has been relatively muted regarding South Korea, which recently elected a liberal president. Analysts suggest Pyongyang is recalibrating its messaging while advancing defense production behind the scenes.

The push for advanced, automated shell production comes as North Korea positions itself as a key munitions supplier and seeks to modernize its military technology in line with evolving global conflict dynamics. With sanctions still in place, the regime’s focus on domestic arms development signals a long-term strategy centered on self-reliance and strategic partnerships.