Large-scale construction has been underway since last month at North Korea’s Ryongseong Machine Complex, where Kim Jong Un personally visited in January and stressed the need to accelerate remodeling work, according to reports released May 27.
According to a report titled “North Korea’s Expansion of Powerful Ballistic Missile Production” published by private satellite analysis firm SI Analytics, multiple construction projects have been taking place at the Ryongseong Machine Complex since last month, including demolition of existing buildings and construction of new structures.
Construction work has resumed at a machine tool factory and foundry where projects had previously stalled, while construction of facilities for parts and semi-finished products has recently begun.
SIA said new facilities are being built around a solid-fuel engine production building located near the Ryongseong machine factory, adding that the developments are notable because they coincide with North Korea’s continued push to develop additional solid-propellant ballistic missiles in an area that had seen little change over the past decade.
North Korea has recently focused on developing ballistic missiles powered by solid-fuel engines.
Compared with conventional liquid-fuel missiles, solid-fuel systems reduce fueling time, improving concealment and operational readiness, while allowing fuel to remain stored for long periods after loading.
In late March, North Korea conducted a test of a new carbon-fiber solid-fuel engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles in the presence of Kim, claiming engine thrust had improved by 27% compared with six months earlier.
The rapid improvement in engine performance prompted speculation at the time that North Korea may have received technical assistance from Russia.
SIA said the ongoing expansion work around the Ryongseong Machine Complex is likely part of efforts to increase production capacity for solid-propellant ballistic missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, warning that the move could place significant strain on South Korean and U.S. missile defense systems.
The Ryongseong Machine Complex, located in the city of Hamhung, is North Korea’s largest industrial equipment manufacturing facility.
Machine tools produced there, including power-generation equipment and compressors, are distributed to major mines and industrial enterprises across the country.
North Korea approved a “modernization plan” for the Ryongseong Machine Complex in December 2023 and designated it as a key policy project of the Workers’ Party’s 8th Central Committee.
Kim later visited the site Jan. 19 and ordered officials to speed up modernization efforts, saying progress had fallen behind schedule.
During the visit, Kim sharply criticized what he described as incompetence among economic officials and took the extraordinary step of dismissing Vice Premier Yang Seung-ho.