Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 25, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleKim Jong Un plans to advance North Korea's missile capabilities over the next five years, focusing on munitions modernization and nuclear submarine development.
SEOUL, Dec 26 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signaled the country will continue to develop missiles in the next five years, as he visited major munitions enterprises in the last quarter of 2025, state media KCNA said on Friday.
Kim said "the country's missile and shell production sector is of paramount importance in bolstering war deterrent," according to KCNA.
Kim ratified draft documents for the modernization of major munitions enterprises to be submitted to a key party congress expected to be held in early 2026, KCNA said, which will set a development plan for North Korea for the next five years.
The KCNA report follows Thursday's reveal of Kim overseeing the construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine with his daughter, a potential heir, and the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles.
(Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Chris Reese)
Missile development refers to the process of designing, testing, and producing missiles, which are weapons designed to be launched and guided towards a target.
A deterrent is a strategy or measure aimed at discouraging an adversary from taking an action, particularly in military contexts, by instilling fear of consequences.
Modernization in military terms refers to the process of updating and improving military capabilities, technologies, and strategies to enhance effectiveness and readiness.
A nuclear-powered submarine is a type of submarine that is powered by nuclear reactors, allowing it to operate underwater for extended periods without surfacing.
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