State media said on the 30th that Kim Jong-un, the Chairperson of the State Affairs Commission, visited a production plant for multiple rocket launchers, a main strike asset capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and said, "We must bring about a revolution in updating artillery weapons systems."
The outlet said Kim inspected a major munitions industrial enterprise on the 28th and "assessed (grasped) the status of production of multiple rocket launcher vehicles that will be equipped by key units of our military."
At the site, Kim said, "This artillery weapons systems, which will become our military's main strike means, will completely renew the composition of our artillery force," and assessed that the factory plays a central role in carrying out "the party's military-strategic policy on modernizing and strengthening long-range artillery."
In particular, highlighting the power of the multiple rocket launcher system, Kim noted it is "a weapons systems that will be used intensively in large quantities in military operations, with high precision and formidable destructive power," and said it "can annihilate the enemy through concentrated and surprise strikes and can also be used as a strategic offensive means."
Kim added that it is "literally an ultra-powerful weapons systems." The phrase "strategic offensive means" is interpreted as suggesting that the multiple rocket launchers can be fitted with nuclear warheads.
Kim said he was satisfied with the factory's production capacity, saying, "It is truly something to be proud of that we are producing, as needed and with our own strength and technology, an operational-tactical weapons systems with unrivaled military effectiveness in the world." He went on to urge that "solid production capacity" be ensured to meet munitions production goals to be presented at the 9th party congress.
Kim also stressed that the overall munitions industry must, in step with modernization goals, push ahead with "establishing an advanced industrial structure that can produce more weapons and combat-technical equipment, constant expansion of production capacity, and innovative technology updates." Kim encouraged officials to "achieve even greater, leaping results through steady struggle in the 2026 defense buildup drive."
Accompanying the inspection were Party Secretary Jo Chun-ryong, Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, First Vice Department Director for Munitions Industry Kim Jeong-sik, and Missile General Bureau Director Jang Chang-ha, among others. North Korea is expected to formalize a nuclear-conventional integration (CNI) strategy that integrates nuclear and conventional weapons operations at the 9th party congress early next year.
Recently, Kim has continued military activities at year's end, including guiding the construction site of a nuclear-powered submarine and observing test launches of new missiles. This is seen as both showcasing the achievement of defense goals set at the 8th party congress and making clear the intent to push defense buildup as the top priority next year.