North Korea this intensifying activities at one of its main weapons production facilitieswhere short-range missiles that Pyongyang would have supplied to Russia are manufactured, .
The facility, known as the “February 11” plantis part of the Ryongsong Machinery Complex, located in Hamhung, the country’s second largest city, located on the eastern coast.
Sam Lair, researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute, assures that this plant is the only identified location in North Korea where the Hwasong-11 class solid-fuel ballistic missiles are manufactured. Specifically, it is used to produce KN-23 missiles (Hwasong-11A) y KN-24 (Hwasong-11B).
Expansion and improvement of infrastructure
Satellite images taken by the company Planet Labs in early October have revealed signs of a significant expansion in the complex. Among the novelties, the construction of a new assembly building and a residential complexwhich could be intended for workers. In addition, they are improving the underground facilities of the site.
A notable change is the removal of an old crane that blocked access to a tunnelwhich, according to Lair, suggests an increase in activity in that area. “This indicates that they are substantially increasing production capacity of this factory,” he says.
The new assembly building is smaller than previous facilities used to assemble missiles, but aims for a strategy to optimize production.
Analysts believe that the KN-23 missilesassembled in this plant, are especially valuable to Russia due to their design. These missiles, tested for the first time in 2019, fly at lower altitudewhat makes them harder to intercept by anti-missile defense systems.
In the context of the war in Ukraine, Russia has launched thousands of missiles, which has tested its production capacity. Collaboration with North Korea could alleviate this pressure, according to Lair.
