Kim Jong-un Personally Conducts Rifle Shooting... "Indicates Full-Scale Start of Russian Arms Exports"

Full-Scale Start of Arms Exports to Russia?... New Foreign Currency Earning Route
Kim Jong Un's Direct Inspection... First Use of Term "Defense Economy Project"
Rifle Shooting Displayed to US-ROK... Unity Directed by Kim Il Sung

Ahead of this month's Korea-US-Japan summit and Korea-US joint military exercises, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un conducted an intensive inspection of military factories and even revealed scenes of rifle shooting. In particular, concerns have emerged that North Korea's first use of the term 'defense economic project' indicates its intention to use illegal arms exports to Russia as a new source of revenue.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 7th, Chairman Kim visited key military factories, including a large-caliber rocket artillery shell production plant, from the 3rd to the 5th, grasping the progress of the party's core military industrial policy goals. At this event, Kim emphasized the 'important responsibilities of factories to further complete the military's war preparations' and outlined the main directions of the 'defense economic project,' the agency reported.

Kim Jong-un Conducts Intensive Inspection of Military Factories Over Three Days, Including Large-Caliber Rocket Artillery Shells

The factories Kim inspected produce ultra-large caliber rocket artillery shells, sniper weapons, strategic cruise missiles, unmanned attack drone engines, and missile launch vehicles. The newly used term 'defense economic project' here appears to signify linking military industry to economic value. Considering the recent visit of the Russian Defense Minister to North Korea, it suggests 'foreign currency earning' through illegal arms exports to Russia.

Earlier, John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the US National Security Council (NSC), pointed out on the 3rd (local time) that "the purpose of Minister Shoigu's visit to North Korea was to persuade them to sell ammunition." Notably, during this inspection, Kim emphasized the 'production of new types of ammunition,' which further supports the possibility of North Korea exporting large quantities of shells to Russia.

Jung Sung-jang, head of the Unification Strategy Research Division at the Sejong Institute, analyzed, "The fact that the visit to the ultra-large caliber rocket artillery shell production plant was introduced first during Kim Jong Un's on-site guidance means that North Korea will be able to export higher-quality shells in large quantities to Russia." He added, "North Korea's use of the term 'defense economic project' indicates that the military industry is contributing not only to domestic demand but also to earning foreign currency through arms exports."

Given that a Russian VIP military aircraft stayed in Pyongyang from the 1st to the 2nd before returning to Moscow, there is speculation that North Korea and Russia may have coordinated more concrete military cooperation measures at that time. Shin Jong-woo, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum, said, "What Russia needs now are conventional weapons such as guns, ammunition, shells, and rocket artillery," adding, "It is also possible that the Russian side visiting North Korea toured local production facilities."

Kim Jong Un Holding a Rifle Boldly in Front of Korea-US, Also Ensured Unity

North Korea's Kim Jong-un Resembling Grandfather Kim Il-sung Demonstrates Test Firing

Meanwhile, the report that Chairman Kim personally inspected military factories is considered unusual. This is because the inspection of military factories has been publicly disclosed for the first time in about a year and a half since January last year. It is seen as a move aimed at the first standalone summit among the three countries Korea, the US, and Japan scheduled for the 18th, and the 'Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)' exercises linked to the Korea-US joint military exercises starting on the 21st.

In particular, North Korea also revealed scenes of Kim personally holding a rifle and shooting. The scene showed a backdrop resembling a 'photo of Kim Il Sung,' which is interpreted as demonstrating a 'strong versus strong' confrontation stance against the deployment of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula and the moves of Korea and the US, while internally emphasizing the legitimacy of the Kim family and inducing loyalty and unity among the residents.