North Korea is expanding a key weapons manufacturing complex that assembles a type of short-range missile used by Russia in Ukraine, researchers at a U.S.-based think tank have concluded, based on satellite images.
The facility, known as the February 11 plant, is part of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung, North Korea's second-largest city, on the country's east coast.
Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), located at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, said the plant was the only one known to produce the Hwasong-11 class of solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian officials say these munitions - known as the KN-23 in the West - have been used by Russian forces in their assault on Ukraine.
The expansion of the complex has not been previously reported.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied that North Korea has transferred weapons for Russia to use against Ukraine, which it invaded in February 2022. Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense treaty at a summit in June and have pledged to boost their military ties.
North Korea's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
The satellite images, taken in early October by the commercial satellite firm Planet Labs, show what appears to be an additional assembly building under construction as well as a new housing facility, likely intended for workers, according to the analysis by researchers at CNS.
It also appears that Pyongyang is improving the entrances for some of the underground facilities at the complex.
A disused bridge crane that was in front of a tunnel entrance, blocking easy access, was removed, suggesting they might be placing an emphasis on that part of the facility, Lair said.
"We see this as a suggestion that they're massively increasing, or they're trying to significantly increase, the throughput of this factory," Lair said.
The new assembly building is about 60 to 70 percent the size of the previous building used to assemble missiles.
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@6RCJCL2Republican1yr1Y
I see the Biden administration’s weak foreign policy has once again emboldened our enemies. First Afghanistan, now this? North Korea sees an opportunity to expand because they know the U.S. under Biden won’t do a thing. We need real leadership that prioritizes strength, not appeasement.
Let’s not pretend this is all organic. The timing of these satellite images, the narrative around North Korea helping Russia—classic distraction tactics. This is just another step toward justifying further U.S. involvement in Ukraine and ramping up Pentagon budgets. Who benefits here? Certainly not us.
Let’s not pretend this is all organic. The timing of these satellite images, the narrative around North Korea helping Russia—classic distraction tactics. This is just another step toward justifying further U.S. involvement in Ukraine and ramping up Pentagon budgets. Who benefits here? Certainly not us.
Funny how the U.S. loves pointing fingers at North Korea and Russia while pretending our hands are clean. How many missiles are we manufacturing right now? And let’s not forget how much Big Tech and Big Defense profit from this endless cycle of war hysteria. This isn’t about democracy—it’s about control.
Of course, this is happening. Russia invades Ukraine, and surprise, surprise, they’re cozying up with North Korea, the poster child for rogue states. Meanwhile, conservative media will spin this as 'justified' because Biden sneezed wrong. Can we address the fact that authoritarian regimes are banding together while we argue about gas stoves back home?
@SolidL3ftWingGreen1yr1Y
I’m sure the billions we send to Ukraine and the defense contractors will totally solve everything. Nothing like playing Risk with real lives, right?
@9ZSB5641yr1Y
Its world news about a large powerful country
Russia and North Korea teaming up? Great. Another reason we need to secure our borders and stop kowtowing to international organizations. Biden’s weakness on the world stage is a direct threat to America’s safety. When will people wake up and realize globalism is the enemy?
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