Major munition factories in South Pyongan province have received an order from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to quickly achieve five key tasks outlined in the party’s five-year defense development plan.
A source in South Pyongan province told Daily NK recently that factories in the province received a “No. 1 directive” — an order signed by Kim — on Feb. 22. The directive instructed them to “quickly achieve the five major tasks to showcase the dignity and glory of the fatherland in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the party’s founding and the Ninth Party Congress.”
The No. 1 directive reportedly resulted directly from a meeting Kim held in Pyongyang with managers and party secretaries of major munition factories on Feb. 21.
According to the source, Kim told the factory officials that the country must “strengthen its overwhelming nuclear deterrent to preemptively strike down the U.S. imperialists’ increasingly reckless war games and schemes to suffocate our country.” He added that the factories must “turn this year, the 80th anniversary of the party’s foundation, into a proud year marked by victory in military industry.”
During the meeting, Kim called for mass production of miniaturized nuclear warheads and swift completion of hypersonic missile development. He also discussed key issues the munitions sector must address to solidify the nation’s independent defense capabilities.
The very next day after the meeting, major munition factories in South Pyongan province, North Pyongan province, Jagang province and elsewhere received the No. 1 directive demanding rapid achievement of the five major tasks.
These five major tasks, presented in the five-year defense development plan announced during the Eighth Party Congress in 2021, include: development of hypersonic missiles; production of miniaturized nuclear warheads; development of solid-fueled land-based and underwater-based intercontinental ballistic missiles; acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines and underwater-launched strategic nuclear weapons; and improving missile accuracy to hit targets with pinpoint precision within a 15,000-kilometer range.
The directive emphasized that these five tasks were “crucial revolutionary tasks on which the fatherland’s survival depends and must ultimately be carried out.”
Additionally, the latest directive includes the slogan, “Let’s make the 80th anniversary of the party’s founding a year for the speed race and the year to complete the military industries.” It also orders major munition factories to operate at full capacity 24 hours a day starting March 3.
Upon receiving the No. 1 directive, major munition factories began developing emergency measures to increase total operations. Some factories initiated emergency operational systems to address issues such as redeploying personnel, inspecting equipment, and securing raw materials.
“All munition factories have switched to a mobilization posture equivalent to wartime,” the source said. “In line with the party’s consistent policy of striking hard against U.S. imperialists and their lackeys through measures to bolster our powerful independent defense and fighting strength, munition factories are pledging to accelerate this year’s weapon production plans.”
March 05, 2025 at 02:15PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)