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WASHINGTON/SEOUL (Reuters) – A recent analysis of satellite imagery has revealed that North Korea is significantly enhancing a crucial weapons manufacturing facility. This complex is known for assembling a certain category of short-range missiles that have been utilized by Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The site, referred to as the February 11 plant, is located within the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhung, North Korea’s second-largest city on the eastern coast of the country.
According to Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), this plant is reportedly the sole facility known to manufacture the Hwasong-11 series of solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian officials have identified these missiles, referred to as the KN-23 in the West, as munitions employed by Russian forces in the war effort against Ukraine.
The recent expansion of this military complex had not been noted in prior reports.
Both Russia and North Korea have publicly denied any claims that North Korea has supplied weapons for Russia’s use in Ukraine, a country that has been embroiled in conflict since the invasion began in February 2022. Earlier this year, the two nations formalized a mutual defense agreement at a summit, expressing intentions to strengthen their military collaboration.
North Korea’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to requests for commentary regarding these developments.
Recent satellite images captured by Planet Labs in early October depict signs of new construction, including what appears to be an additional assembly building and a new housing facility likely intended for workers at the site, according to CNS analysis.
The modifications include improvements to entrances for some underground installations, and a previously obstructive crane has been removed, indicating a potential focus on enhancing accessibility to specific areas of the complex.
Lair posited, “This suggests they are either greatly increasing or attempting to enhance the production capacity of this factory.”
The size of the new assembly facility is estimated to be approximately 60 to 70 percent that of the original building used for missile assembly.
In 2023, North Korean state media released images indicating that leader Kim Jong Un was touring modernized segments of the Hamhung complex, where work focused on components integral to the KN-23 missile was taking place, according to military analysts.
Historically, North Korea has showcased a variety of manufacturing capabilities at this complex, which spans from tank components to rocket motor casings, as indicated by Lair.
Details on the KN-23
First launched in May 2019, the KN-23 is noted for its design intended to elude missile defense systems by flying at a lower trajectory, a characteristic that experts believe could be advantageous for Russian efforts to breach Ukrainian air defenses.
Since the onset of the invasion, Russia has deployed thousands of missiles, and reliance on North Korean resources could alleviate pressure on its domestic production capabilities, Lair remarked.
North Korean state news agency KCNA confirmed ongoing construction at the Ryongsong Machine Complex, announcing strides toward achieving modernization goals for the year. This includes upgrading production facilities and equipment installation in workshops.
According to a report released by SI Analytics, a South Korean satellite imaging company utilizing AI technology, new construction at the February 11 plant was also identified, with some areas designed to obscure operations from satellite surveillance.
“The presence of construction materials, vehicles, and freight cars indicates rapid progress at the site,” the report noted, emphasizing that this facility is involved in the production of ballistic missiles without directly naming the KN-23.
Michael Duitsman, another research associate at CNS, suggested that the newly identified construction might be a storage facility, although he inclined towards the possibility that it is primarily a new assembly area.
Despite North Korean missiles playing a relatively minor role in the broader context of Russian strikes against Ukraine, their purported deployment raises concerns in both Washington and Seoul, signaling a potential shift in a long-standing consensus among permanent U.N. Security Council member states focused on preventing Pyongyang from augmenting its missile capabilities.
Further analysis from SI Analytics indicated new developments occurring at the nearby February 8 Vinalon Complex, which is suspected of producing missile propellants. These upgrades may aim to increase production of solid propellants or UDMH, a key component for liquid rocket engines.
Joseph Dempsey, a military analyst affiliated with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, stated that the enhancement of short-range missile facilities in North Korea likely stems from a desire to bolster its own military inventory.
He noted uncertainty regarding the extent to which Pyongyang is expanding its production capacity in line with its new alliance with Moscow.
Reports indicate that over 10,000 North Korean troops have been dispatched to Russia’s Kursk region, marking a significant involvement amid heightened military activities since Ukraine’s incursion in August.
These troops are expected to integrate into Russian airborne divisions and marine units, with some currently engaged in combat, a South Korean lawmaker sitting on the intelligence committee disclosed recently.
Russia has not contested the reports regarding the North Korean military presence within Ukraine as the conflict continues to evolve since the large-scale invasion in February 2022.
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