North Korea expands KN-23 ballistic missile plant for Russia - Reuters. SATELLITE PHOTOS
The DPRK is expanding a key weapons production complex that assembles the type of short-range missiles used by Russia in its war against Ukraine.
This is reported by Reuters, Censor.NET reports.
The facility, known as the February 11 plant, is part of the Ryongsong engineering complex in Hamgyong, North Korea's second largest city.
Sam Lair, a research fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, noted that the plant was the only known manufacturer of Hwasong-11 solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
According to an analysis by CNS researchers, satellite images taken in early October by Planet Labs show what appears to be an additional building where missiles are assembled, as well as a new residential complex, likely intended for workers.
Pyongyang is also likely to be improving the entrances to some of the complex's underground facilities.
The new building is about 60-70% larger than the previous building, which was used for missile assembly.
"We assume that they are significantly increasing or trying to significantly increase the throughput of this plant," Lair added.
According to experts, the KN-23s were first tested in May 2019 and are designed to bypass missile defense systems by flying in a lower, "inclined" trajectory, making them potentially useful to Russia, which is looking for ways to overcome Ukraine's air defense.
