A new plan has been announced by North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to greatly develop and modernise North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme. This announcement comes after a series of missile launches that have heightened concern and tension in South Korea, Japan and the United States. In the KCNA’s (Korean Central News Agency) Wednesday report, Kim is scheduled to share details of the plan at the next meeting of the Workers’ Party, the first high-profile meeting of the North Korean internal system since 2021.
Missile Tests as Political Signaling Ahead of Party Congress
On the day after the most recent launches in North Korea’s weapons program, KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un had witnessed the launch of new designs by North Korea in order to improve his country’s ability to manufacture those weapons.
As North Korea moves away from testing to building missiles in large numbers, Kim has instructed the country to expand its missile production capacity. New information on North Korea’s military strategy will likely be presented at the upcoming Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party, which is scheduled for later this month. In addition, the new Fifth-Phase Development Plan will be introduced at this congress and will address military and economic development in North Korea.
This indicates that military development is central to the country’s overall national security policy, despite severe economic conditions and continued international sanctions. Kim warned that the new military development plans would cause “extreme mental suffering” for the North’s enemies, which also indicates that Pyongyang is remaining reliant on threats of brutality against its adversaries rather than seeking diplomatic negotiations with them.
Technical Advances and Range Capabilities
The multiple rocket launcher system used in Tuesday’s test was touted by Kim as being “key to enhancing the effectiveness of our strategic deterrent.” According to Kim, the system can be used for “specific attacks,” indicating an increased focus on more precise strike capabilities versus using ballistic missile tests to send a message.
The missiles allegedly hit targets located 358.5 km (222.7 mi) away from where they were launched. The ROK military reported that a number of short range ballistic missiles were launched from areas north of Pyongyang toward the Sea of Japan (also referred to as the East Sea).
Japanese military officials reported that at least two of the missiles were launched into a location outside of North Korea’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), raising concerns that this may lead to aggravations of the current situation and/or breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions which prohibit North Korea from launching any type of ballistic missile.
Precision Guidance and Anti-Jamming Capabilities
Analysts quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said Kim’s reference to a “self-steered precision guided flight system” may indicate the introduction of a navigation technology designed to counter GPS jamming—a capability used by the US and South Korea in wartime scenarios.
If confirmed, such a system would represent a notable leap in North Korea’s missile sophistication. Precision guidance increases the military utility of short-range systems, allowing them to target air bases, ports, and command centers in South Korea and Japan with far greater accuracy.
North Korea already possesses an estimated 1,000 to 1,200 ballistic missiles, including short-, medium-, and intercontinental-range systems, according to US and South Korean intelligence assessments.
Strategic Context: Nuclear Arsenal Growth Continues
Kim’s latest remarks reinforce long-standing assessments that Pyongyang is not merely maintaining but actively expanding its nuclear force. North Korea is believed to possess 30 to 60 nuclear warheads, with the capacity to produce more fissile material at facilities such as Yongbyon.
The emphasis on rocket artillery and short-range systems reflects North Korea’s evolving doctrine: developing weapons that are survivable, mobile, and usable early in a conflict, rather than relying solely on intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the US mainland.
Kim said the test results would pose a “serious threat” to any forces attempting to provoke military confrontation, explicitly framing the system as a response to joint US–South Korea military exercises, which Pyongyang routinely labels as invasion rehearsals.
Symbolism and Succession Signals
Photographs released by state media showed Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, attending the test alongside senior missile officials, including Kim Jong-sik, first vice department director of the party’s central committee, and Jang Chang-ha, head of the Missile Administration.
Her repeated appearances at major weapons tests have fueled speculation about her future political role, with analysts viewing the imagery as part of a broader effort to signal dynastic continuity while reinforcing the centrality of nuclear weapons to North Korea’s national identity.
Economic Strain Versus Military Priorities
Kim acknowledged that development of the rocket launcher system had “not been plain sailing,” a rare admission of technical or logistical difficulty. Yet the continued focus on military investment comes as North Korea faces severe economic challenges, including food shortages, trade isolation, and limited access to foreign currency due to sanctions.
Despite these constraints, Pyongyang has prioritized defense spending for years. Estimates suggest that up to a quarter of North Korea’s GDP is directed toward military and security sectors, crowding out civilian needs.
Escalation Risks Ahead
With no diplomatic talks underway and sanctions relief increasingly unlikely, Kim’s announcement signals that North Korea is entering a new phase of weapons development—one focused on quantity, precision, and operational readiness.
The upcoming party congress is likely to formalize this trajectory, setting the stage for further missile tests, possible nuclear demonstrations, and deeper strategic friction with Washington and its regional allies.
For South Korea and Japan, the message is clear: North Korea is not negotiating from weakness but entrenching itself as a permanent nuclear power, regardless of international pressure.
