1/10 - North Korean leader Kim tours weapons factories
2/10 - Kim Jong Un toured the country's key weapons factories
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured the country\'s key weapons factories, including those producing artillery systems and launch vehicles for nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
3/10 - Praised the factory's efforts to employ 'scientific and technological measures'
Kim praised the factory\'s efforts to employ “scientific and technological measures” to improve the quality of shells, reduce processing times for propellent tubes and increase manufacturing speed.
4/10 - Trying boost the visibility of his partnerships with Moscow and Beijing
Kim has been trying boost the visibility of his partnerships with Moscow and Beijing as he tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and insert himself into a united front against the United States.
5/10 - Tour of the weapons factories comes after a giant military parade last month
His tour of the weapons factories comes after a giant military parade last month in North Korea\'s capital, Pyongyang, where Kim was joined by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
6/10 - North Korea's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Shoigu\'s presence at the July 27 parade, which came after Kim took him on a tour of a domestic arms exhibition, demonstrated North Korea\'s support for Russia\'s invasion of Ukraine .
7/10 - Kim's visits to the factories likely had a dual goal
Kim\'s visits to the factories likely had a dual goal of encouraging the modernization of domestically produced weapons and examining artillery and other supplies that can possibly be exported to Russia.
8/10 - Kim has an intent for exports of arms to Russia
Kim\'s comments at the artillery factory about improving the quality of shells and the need to develop new types of ammunition, which he described as key to the country\'s “defense economic projects,” clearly communicate an intent for exports to Russia, Cheong said.
9/10 - North Korea has been aligning with Russia over the war in Ukraine
North Korea has been aligning with Russia over the war in Ukraine, insisting that the “hegemonic policy” of the U.S.-led West forced Moscow to take military action to protect its security interests.
10/10 - Pyongyang has denied US accusations
Pyongyang has denied US accusations that it has been providing arms to Russia to aid its fighting in Ukraine.
