Kim Jong Un Calls for Artificial Intelligence and Automation in North Korea’s Weapons Systems
North Korean State Media and Military Images
North Korea’s state media plays a major role in presenting the country’s military capabilities.
Photographs of Kim Jong Un inspecting factories serve several purposes.
They can demonstrate political leadership.
They can show weapons production.
They can communicate technological ambition.
They can also send messages to domestic and foreign audiences.
Images released from the September factory inspections showed Kim surrounded by military personnel and production equipment.
Some photographs appeared to show drone production and artillery-related systems.
NK News reported that several of the facilities visited by Kim were likely associated with major weapons programs, including the 600mm multiple-launch rocket system.
Because North Korea does not normally permit independent journalists to freely inspect its military factories, official photographs can provide unusual visual evidence.
Nevertheless, such images need to be interpreted carefully.
North Korea’s 240mm Rocket Systems
North Korea also maintains and develops 240mm multiple-launch rocket systems.
These systems have historically been important to North Korea’s conventional artillery capabilities.
The 240mm category is associated with large rocket artillery systems capable of delivering concentrated fire over significant distances.
North Korea has continued developing and modernizing rocket artillery systems while also introducing larger and more sophisticated systems.
Yonhap’s analysis of the September factory images indicated that Kim may have visited factories associated with both 240mm and 600mm multiple-launch rocket systems.
The combination of older and newer artillery systems is important.
Military modernization does not necessarily mean abandoning older equipment.
Instead, a country can modernize command systems, ammunition, sensors and communications while continuing to operate legacy weapons.
September 20, 2026 | 7:26 pm
