North Korea vows continuous upgrade of its nuclear arsenal, expands missile shipments to Russia
Kim Yo‑jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un and head of the party’s Central Committee, said the country’s nuclear forces will be constantly modernised, describing them as a "reliable shield" for the nation’s sovereignty. International analysts estimate North Korea holds 50‑90 ready‑to‑use nuclear warheads with enough fissile material to produce more, and it fields a range of delivery systems including ICBMs such as Hwasong‑17 and Hwasong‑18, medium‑ and short‑range missiles, nuclear‑capable submarines and low‑flight cruise missiles.
The regime also announced a plan to boost its ballistic‑missile and cruise‑missile production capacity by 2.5 times over the next five years. As part of this expansion, North Korea has supplied Russia with tactical ballistic missiles, notably the KN‑23 and KN‑24 as well as the supersonic Hwasong‑11Ma, which Russia has deployed against Ukraine. These deliveries reflect a deepening military cooperation between the two states amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Entities: Hwasong‑11Ma missile · KN‑23 ballistic missile · Kim Yo‑jong · North Korea · Russia · Ukraine
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] North Korea fields intercontinental ballistic missiles Hwasong‑17 and Hwasong‑18 capable of reaching the United States. (North Korean state media)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Kim Yo‑jong described the nuclear arsenal as the 'best guarantee for defense' and a 'reliable shield'. (Kim Yo‑jong)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Missile deliveries reflect a widening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. (North Korean state media)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] North Korea plans to increase its production capacity for ballistic and cruise missiles by 2.5 times over the next five years. (North Korean state media)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Russia has used KN‑23 missiles extensively in the Russia‑Ukraine war. (North Korean state media)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kim Yo‑jong announced that North Korea's nuclear forces will be continuously upgraded. (Kim Yo‑jong)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] North Korea has supplied Russia with ballistic missiles KN‑23, KN‑24 and the supersonic Hwasong‑11Ma. (North Korean state media)
- [● 2 SOURCES] North Korea possesses between 50 and 90 nuclear warheads ready for use, with sufficient fissile material to produce more. (International nuclear analysts)