North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a newly built missile production facility in a carefully staged tour aimed at showcasing his country’s growing military power. The visit, highlighted in state media, comes on the eve of his trip to Beijing, where he is expected to join China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at a military parade marking the end of World War II. The timing underlines Pyongyang’s defiance of sanctions and its bid to cement ties with Beijing and Moscow.

Expanding Missile Production

State media described the factory as “modern and automated,” with Kim declaring it a core achievement of his five-year plan to strengthen national defense. Analysts believe the site is producing Hwasong-11 short-range ballistic missiles, with ranges of up to 800 kilometers.

These missiles are designed to carry nuclear payloads and strike U.S. military bases across the Korean Peninsula. The facility demonstrates North Korea’s determination to sustain large-scale production despite sanctions and isolation.

Regional Diplomacy And Defiance

Kim’s inspection was timed to project military strength ahead of his Beijing visit, where he will appear at China’s Victory Day parade alongside Xi and Putin. The event signals an emerging bloc of countries pushing back against Western pressure.

By showcasing his arsenal before this summit, Kim is positioning North Korea not as an isolated state but as a partner in a wider strategic axis that includes China and Russia.