Key facts
- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited munitions factories from Wednesday to Friday.
- Kim Jong-un called for artillery to have "most concentrated and destructive" capabilities.
- Kim stated artillery should have "massive and versatile offensive capability" for deterring and fighting war.
- Kim emphasized the munitions industry's role in building the "most powerful army."
- Policy tasks include enhancing AI in weapons, upgrading artillery armor and automation, and improving production.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for the country's artillery forces to possess the "most concentrated and destructive" capabilities, according to state media reports from Saturday, September 19, 2026. Kim inspected munitions enterprises between Wednesday and Friday, emphasizing the strategic importance of the munitions industry in building the "most powerful army."
During his visits, Kim was accompanied by senior officials, including Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as stating that artillery should have "massive and versatile offensive capability" to perform missions of deterring and fighting war.
Kim also outlined policy tasks aimed at modernizing the military, including enhancing the level of artificial intelligence in offensive and defensive weapons, upgrading the armor and automation of artillery systems, and improving production conditions. Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Seoul-based Korea Defense and Security Forum, suggested that Kim likely visited factories producing 600 mm and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers, as well as drones.