North Korea Expands Ballistic Missile Production Plant

25 November, 2024 Satellite image of construction at the February 11th Plant November 20, 2024, North Korea. Photo credits: Reuters Satellite imagery confirms the expansion of the KN-23 ballistic missile plant in the DPRK.

Reuters news agency reported on this. North Korea is expanding its key ballistic missile production facility, known as the February 11th plant. This 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. North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported that construction is underway at the Ryongsong machine-building complex. The work includes the reconstruction of production facilities, as well as the assembly and installation of equipment in machine shops and a steel casting shop, the report said.

Satellite image of construction at the February 11th Plant November 20, 2024, North Korea.

Photo credits: Reuters

Researchers at SI Analytics, a South Korean satellite imagery firm that uses AI technology to scour images, also confirmed the new construction at the February 11th plant. "Considering the presence of numerous construction materials, vehicles, and open-top freight cars loaded with materials around the site, the construction appears to be progressing rapidly," stated the SI Analytics. Michael Duitsman, also a research associate at CNS, said it was possible that the new construction revealed in the satellite images could be a storage facility, but he believed it was more likely a new assembly building.

SI Analytics stated on Monday it had also identified new construction at the nearby February 8 Vinalon Complex, which is believed to produce fuel for ballistic missiles.

According to CNN, about a third of the ballistic missiles used by Russia to attack Ukraine in 2024 were KN-23 ballistic missiles manufactured by the DPRK.

It is reported that out of 194 ballistic missiles used by Russia in 2024 (as of November 23), more than 60 were North Korean KN-23s.