North Korea expanding key facility producing missiles Russia uses in Ukraine
- 26 November, 09:05
North Korea is expanding its key weapons manufacturing facility that assembles a variety of short-range missiles allegedly used by Russia in its war in Ukraine.
Known as a “February 11” plant, the facility is part of the Ryongsong Machine Complex in the country’s northeastern Hamhung city. According to Sam Liar, a researcher from James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), the plant is the only one known to manufacture the Hwasong-11 class of solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
The assessment came just days after South Korean spy agency accused North Korea of providing Russia with additionally artillery systems and amid reports that Pyongyang troops are engaged in combat in the war in Ukraine.
Both North Korea and Russia have denied reports of Pyongyang sending weapons and munitions to aid Russia’s war efforts.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the defence cooperation arises from the mutual defence treaty signed between two countries in June, which calls to "immediately provide military and other assistance using all available means" if either side is in a state of war.
North Korean missiles account for only a fraction of missiles used by Russia. However, their provision to Russia amounts to the violation of a nearly two-decade consensus among UN Security Council permanent members on preventing Pyongyang from expanding its ballistic missile programme.
