weapons production, russia, north korea, dprk
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on June 20 that "A treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation has been signed" and "Comrade Kim Jong Un signed the treaty together with Comrade Putin." / Photo: Rodong Sinmun, News1

North Korea’s ruling party has ordered an expansion of weapons production and export plans for the fourth quarter to meet Russia’s military demands. The regime is implementing an emergency strategy to quickly meet Russia’s requests for ammunition for the Ukraine war and double its existing weapons production.

A source in North Korea told Daily NK on Tuesday that the Central Military Commission “issued emergency tasks for the fourth-quarter arms production and export to the Defense Ministry Department, the Second Economic Committee and major enterprises of the defense industry through Order No. 61351 issued on Oct. 1.”

Accordingly, on Oct. 2, the Ministry of Defense immediately began implementing the Central Military Commission’s order to strengthen cooperation with Russia by quickly securing the total amount of ammunition exports.

Specifically, the Defense Industry Department organized a temporary task force composed of members of the Second Economic Commission and officials from specialized departments of the General Equipment Bureau of the Ministry of Defense to ensure efficiency in the production and transfer of munitions.

The Defense Industry Department has taken the lead in quickly determining Russia’s demand for military hardware, mediating opinions, and systematizing export routes, while the Second Economic Committee has taken on the task of promoting the expansion of arms production in the fourth quarter through on-site management and supervision of major defense industry enterprises and inspection of the produced items.

The General Equipment Department of the Ministry of Defense has cooperated in allowing ammunition and weapons that are nearing or have passed their expiration date to be included in exports to Russia.

The Defense Industry Department has taken measures to maximize production and efficiency by introducing result-based reward systems to encourage workers at defense industry enterprises that have been designated as critical to rapidly doubling production.

“The Central Military Commission mentioned in the latest order that it also hopes to secure strategic technology support to strengthen the nation’s self-defense power,” the source said. “It revealed the goal of taking the development of the nation’s own defense industry to the next level in the long term by adopting advanced technology through military cooperation with Russia and greatly increasing the localization rate.” 

He added: “The Defense Industry Department told related workplaces that the Central Military Commission’s order ‘goes beyond simply increasing arms production – it’s an important, even critical, chance to strengthen the autonomy of the nation’s defense economy and secure outside money to develop our defense industries.'” 

The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.

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