Kim Inspects Tank Factory
Stresses 'Army Modernization' Through Development of Advanced Tanks
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized the modernization of the army through the development of advanced tanks and armored vehicles.
According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 4, Kim inspected an "important tank factory," where he reviewed the production status, the progress of modernization efforts, and the implementation of research tasks related to core tank technologies. The report did not specify the name of the factory or the timing of his visit.
Photographs released the same day showed Kim wearing a black leather jacket, kneeling atop a tank and inspecting its interior. He stressed, "Replacing our army's tanks and armored vehicles with the latest models, instead of the armored weapons of past decades, is the most important issue in building our military capabilities and modernizing the army."
He also stated, "If we do not first reconsider our approach to tank design, we cannot properly advance the development of armored forces," outlining the fundamental direction and tasks for tank modernization, according to the report.
Kim particularly emphasized, "Accelerating the modernization of munitions factories and related enterprises to establish large-scale, advanced production capabilities for tanks and self-propelled artillery, and comprehensively renewing our military's armored weapon systems in a short period of time, are key tasks in realizing the ambitious vision and strategic intentions of the Party Central Committee for a second armored forces revolution."
These remarks are interpreted as an acknowledgment that, unlike strategic weapons supported by Russian technology and other assistance, North Korea's conventional forces lag significantly behind those of South Korea.
Kim also expressed satisfaction, stating, "We have renewed the structural design and firepower systems of our tanks to improve crew convenience, confirmed the scientific and reliable design of high-output engines, and secured a solid foundation for series production." He further announced his support for the factory's production process modernization plan.
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