North Korea Expands Key Weapons Manufacturing Complex
Satellite Images Reveal New Construction at Ryongsong Machine Complex
WASHINGTON/SEOUL: 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.
Facility Details
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.
KN-23 Missile
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.
Denials
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.
Satellite Images
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.
Construction Progress
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.
LOW-FLYING MISSILES
The KN-23 was first tested in May 2019, and is designed to evade missile defenses by flying on a lower, "depressed" trajectory, experts have told Reuters, making them potentially useful for Russia as it seeks ways to penetrate Ukraine’s air defenses. Russia has fired thousands of missiles since the invasion. Leaning on North Korea for additional supplies could ease the strain on its own production facilities, Lair said.
North Korea’s State News Agency
North Korea’s state news agency KCNA has reported that construction is underway at the Ryongsong Machine Complex. This month, KCNA said the facility "is pushing ahead with the projects for attaining the goal for modernization planned for this year." The work includes rebuilding production facilities as well as assembling and installing equipment at machine workshops and a steel casting workshop, it said.
SI Analytics Report
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 11 plant, saying in a report on Monday that some of the construction near the loading area would likely be used to conceal the future operations of the factory from satellites.
Conclusion
North Korea’s expansion of its weapons manufacturing complex is a significant development, as it suggests that the country is increasing its production capacity and capabilities. The use of North Korean missiles by Russia in Ukraine has caused alarm in Seoul and Washington, and this expansion could further complicate the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Ryongsong Machine Complex?
A: The Ryongsong Machine Complex is a weapons manufacturing complex in North Korea that produces ballistic missiles.
Q: What type of missiles does the complex produce?
A: The complex produces the Hwasong-11 class of solid-fuel ballistic missiles, which are also known as the KN-23 in the West.
Q: Has North Korea transferred weapons to Russia?
A: Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied that North Korea has transferred weapons for Russia to use against Ukraine.
Q: What is the significance of this development?
A: The expansion of the complex suggests that North Korea is increasing its production capacity and capabilities, which could further complicate the situation in Ukraine.