Kim Jong Un, the Chairperson of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, inspected missile production capabilities during a visit to an important military supply enterprise that began operations on the 31st of last month.
On the 1st, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim, the Chairperson, had specifically grasped the newly designed flow-type (conveyor belt type) automated missile production process system.
Kim evaluated that the 'plan for expanding missile production capabilities' issued during the 8th Party Congress held in January 2021 has been successfully completed by this year.
The agency did not specifically disclose the location of the enterprise Kim visited that day, but analysis suggests that it is likely located in Jagang Province.
Jagang Province is an area where various military factories in North Korea are concentrated. For example, the 2.8 Machine Complex is known as a place that produces missiles and mortar shells.
Kim's movement to Jagang Province, following his visit to North Hamgyong Province ahead of the trip to China, suggests that he is approaching the North Korea-China border, raising speculation that his entry into China is imminent.
While inspecting the new missile production line, Kim said, "A modernized production process capable of meeting the prospective demand for our military's missile forces has been established, providing a solid guarantee for the significant growth of national missile production capabilities and enabling the planned increase in combat quantities for key missile units as envisioned."
He added, "The remarkable transformation created in the struggle to implement the party's core defense construction policy to strengthen missile power is a distinct achievement brought about by the significantly elevated mental power, wisdom, and enthusiasm of our national defense scientific research group and the labor class."
The agency reported that Kim displayed great satisfaction after receiving a report on establishing a flow-type automated production system, ensuring high productivity and scientific and technological guarantees for the quality characteristics of products through specialized precision processing and measurement, assembly equipment for processing each component of the flight vehicle from the material preparation process.
Kim approved three new missile production capability forecast plans and corresponding defense expenditure proposals.
The inspection that day was attended by Jo Chun Ryong, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Kim Jeong Sik, First Vice Director of the Party's Central Committee, Jang Chang Ha, Director of the Missile General Bureau, as well as managers of key missile production enterprises and officials from the Defense Industry Modernization Permanent Committee.