North Korea is expanding its ballistic missile production facility for Russia, according to Reuters.

This is reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Reuters. Reports are coming from Kontrakty.UA.

The facility known as the February 11 factory is part of the "Renson" machine-building complex located in Hamheung, the second-largest city in North Korea, on the eastern coast of the country.

Sem Ler, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) based at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, stated that this factory is the only known site producing solid-fuel ballistic missiles of the "Hwason-11" class.

According to an analysis by CNS researchers, satellite images taken in early October by commercial satellite company Planet Labs show what appears to be an additional assembly building under construction, as well as a new housing complex likely intended for workers.

It seems that Pyongyang is also working on improving the entrances to some underground facilities within the complex.

Ler mentioned that a neglected overhead crane that was blocking access to the tunnel entrance has been removed, suggesting that they may have focused their attention on this part of the facility.

"We consider this an indication that they are significantly increasing or trying to significantly boost the productivity of this factory," Ler said.

The new assembly building is approximately 60–70% smaller than the building previously used for missile assembly.

In 2023, state media published photographs showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walking through the new buildings of the complex in Hamheung, where analysts claim workers are assembling tail sections and nose cones for the missile, presumably the KN-23.

According to Ler, previously released video footage by North Korean state media showed that everything was produced at this complex, from tank wheels to missile engine casings.

Missiles flying lower

Experts noted that the KN-23 was first tested in May 2019 and is designed to evade missile defense systems by flying at a lower, "sloped" trajectory, which could potentially be advantageous for Russia as it seeks ways to overcome Ukraine's air defenses.

Since the invasion, Russia has launched thousands of missiles at Ukraine. Relying on North Korea for additional supplies could alleviate the burden on its own production capabilities, Ler stated.

Researchers from SI Analytics, a South Korean satellite image processing company that employs artificial intelligence technology for image analysis, also confirmed the new construction at the February 11 factory, stating in their report that part of the structure near the loading area is likely intended to conceal future activities of the factory from satellites.

"Given the presence of numerous construction materials, vehicles, and open freight cars with materials around the site, construction is likely progressing rapidly," the firm stated. The report indicated that the facility has been used for ballistic missile production, but the name KN-23 was not mentioned.

North Korean missiles account for only a small portion of Russia's strikes during the war against Ukraine; however, their use has raised alarms in Seoul and Washington as it signals the end of nearly two decades of consensus among permanent members of the UN Security Council regarding preventing Pyongyang from expanding its ballistic missile programs.

It is recalled that, according to Kyiv, North Korea has supplied Russia with 194 ballistic missiles KN-23/KN-24. Since the beginning of 2024, Russia has launched about 60 North Korean KN-23 missiles across its territory.