North Korea’s Kim Jong Un signals continued missile development over next five years

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has signaled that the country will continue developing missiles over the next five years after visiting major munitions enterprises in the final quarter of 2025, state media KCNA reported on Friday.

Kim said the missile and artillery production sector is “of paramount importance in bolstering war deterrence,” according to the report.

During the visits, Kim ratified draft documents on the modernization of key munitions enterprises that will be submitted to a major ruling party congress expected in early 2026. The congress is set to outline North Korea’s five-year development plan, KCNA said.

The report follows Thursday’s disclosure that Kim oversaw construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine alongside his daughter, widely seen as a potential successor, and the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles.