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Munition’s Buildup in North Korea
North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, recently oversaw the testing of a new surface-to-sea missile and visited a major munitions factory, where he emphasized the need for an increase in weapons production, as per state media Korean Central News Agency KCNA. According to South Korea’s military, North Korea launched multiple cruise missiles off its east coast on the same day, which is the latest in a series of tests conducted recently. These tests are taking place ahead of the upcoming general election in South Korea in April. Kim Jong Un expressed concerns regarding the maritime demarcation line between the two Koreas, known as the “Northern Limit Line” (NLL), which he believes South Korea is violating, as per KCNA.
Padasuri-6 Missile and munition factory reports
According to a KCNA report, Kim oversaw the evaluation test-fire of a new type of surface-to-sea missile called Padasuri-6. The missile is intended to be equipped by the navy. Kim expressed great satisfaction over the results of the test-fire. The missiles were able to hit their intended targets after flying for 1,400 seconds over the East Sea, which is known as the Sea of Japan in international waters.
The new missile, called Padasuri-6, or “Sea Eagle-6”, flew over the sea and hit its intended target, KCNA added.
In addition to this, Kim also inspected a major munitions factory and learned about the modernization of production. He emphasized the factory’s role in enhancing North Korea’s armed forces and laid out tasks to improve the quality of munitions and increase production, as required by the current situation and the developing revolution, according to KCNA.
Kim Jong Un’s Statement
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accused South Korea of repeatedly violating his country’s sovereignty by insisting on a “Northern Limit Line” (NLL), which is a maritime demarcation line between the two Koreas, and conducting maritime patrols and interdiction of third-party ships.
Kim has given orders to his military to strengthen its readiness in the waters north of Yeonpyeong Island and to the west of the Korean peninsula, in the region of the NLL. The NLL, which was drawn up by the United States-led United Nations Command at the end of the Korean War in 1953, has been the site of previous clashes between the two Koreas.
Kim has referred to the de facto border as a “ghost one without any ground in the light of international law”.
“It doesn’t matter how many lines exist in [North Korea’s] western sea, and what’s clear is that if the enemy violates what we consider as our maritime border lines, we will take that as a violation of our sovereignty and an armed provocation,”
Kim Jong Un
Aggressive change in policy
Earlier this year, the North Korean leader announced to his country’s parliament that he would no longer acknowledge the NLL. He also declared that Pyongyang was abandoning its long-held ambition of reconciling with Seoul. He went on to state that even a minor violation of their territorial lands, air, or waters by South Korea would be considered a provocation of war.
In another report, KCNA disclosed that Kim had inspected a significant munitions factory and received detailed information about its modernization. During his visit, he emphasized the factory’s importance in strengthening North Korea’s armed forces and outlined plans to improve the quality and quantity of munitions production, as “required by the prevailing situation and the developing revolution,” according to KCNA.
Kim’s tour of the munitions factory comes as the US and its allies accuse North Korea of trading arms with Russia. The White House recently claimed that Russia used short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) obtained from North Korea to carry out attacks on Ukraine, citing newly declassified intelligence.
