North Korea's defence industry predates the Korean War, but has emerged as a major supplier to the North Korean armed forces beginning in the 1970s, but increasingly so after the fall of the Soviet Union and to supplement those purchased from China. Most equipment produced are copies of Soviet and Chinese built military hardware. During peacetime it is estimated that munitions factories can produce 2 million artillery shells annually for the 152mm caliber howitzer.https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-11-06/national/northKorea/Expert-says-North-likely-to-ramp-up-production-of-shells-for-Russia/1907006
Military factories Enterprise Location Coordinates Additional informationNo. 26 Factory KanggyeKanggye General Tractor FactoryNo. 38 Factory HuichonHuichon General Machinery Tool FactoryNo. 65 Factory Hakmu, JonchonJonchon 2.8 Machinery FactoryPyorha-ri Armament Factory SongganNo. 301 Factory Suwon-ri, TaegwanKusong Machine Tool Factory KusongSungni Automobile Factory Tokchon January 18 Machine Factory Kagam-dong, Kaechon Kumsong Tractor Factory Nampho Thaesong Machine Factory NamphoNampho Chamjin Munitions Factory No. 125 Factory PyongyangPyongyang Pig Farm No. 7 Factory Pyongyang Pyongyang Weak-Current Apparatus Factory Pyongyang Mangyongdae Weak-Current Apparatus Factory PyongyangPyongyang Pigeon Farm Pyongyang Semiconductor Factory Pyongyang Sanum-dong Research Center Pyongyang October 3 Plant Munchon Munchon Naval Base February 11 Plant Hamhung Hamhung Chemical Materials Research Center Hamhung Sariwon Weapons Factory Sariwon Sinuiju Measuring Instrument Factory Sinuiju No. 81 Factory SongganSonggan Steel Mill March 16 Factory PyongsongPyongnam Machine Factory References: Tanks, arms, and missiles First Machine Industry Bureau - supplier of machine guns, likely Type 62 Light Machine Gun and Type 73 Light Machine GunBermudez Jr., p. 50. Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory - Sinhung South Hamgyong Province Second Machine Industry Bureau - Sŏngch'ŏn-kun, South Pyongan Province - builds Chonma-ho and Pokpung-ho MBT; likely Chuch'e-Po and Koksan artillery gun Third Machine Industry Bureau: Multi-stage rockets Fourth Machine Industry Bureau: Guided missiles Fifth Machine Industry Bureau: Nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons Tokhyon Munitions Plant
Naval Bong Dao Bo Shipyards, Sinpo - located on the mainland across from Mayang-do Naval base - builder of the Sang-O and Gorae class Submarines. Mayang-do Naval Shipyards, in northeast coast - maintenance facility with graving dock; has built some ships for the navy (12 Romeo class submarines) Najin Shipyards - Kowan-Class submarine rescue ship, Soho class frigates and Najin class frigates Nampho Shipyards - located on west coast and builds small- and medium-size submarines (Sang-O and Yugo?) Wonsan Shipyards - located on east coast and builds small- and medium-size submarines (Sang-O and Yugo?) Yukdaeso-ri Shipyards - located on west coast and has built midget submarines (Yugo-class submarines or Yono-class submarines) since the 1960s Sixth Machine Industry Bureau: Battleships and submarines
Aircraft There are no known indigenous aircraft built in North Korea, factories supply components or parts for current aircraft flown such as for Tumansky RD-9 turbojet engine used by Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 and Shenyang J-6. Agreement between China and North Korea was reached in August of 1974 to construct maintenance facility for J-6 fighter jets, completion was not achieved until 1987 due to North Korea requesting for facility to also maintain J-5 and J-7. Capacity of the facility involving J-6 is to service 50 aircraft and 400 of WP-6 engines along manufacture common spare parts, also includes special tools and molds.https://user.guancha.cn/main/content?id=447082&s=fwzwyzzwzbt
Another is additional sub systems for aircraft such as Tactical air navigation system that for example were known to be exported to Syria.
Ch’onjin - small factory used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force. Taechon - used to build spare parts and rebuild aircraft for the Air Force. Panghyon - North Korea's primary aircraft assembly, repair and research facility established in the mid-1980s. Seventh Machine Industry Bureau: Production and purchase of war planes
Space National Aerospace Development Administration
See also Munitions Industry Department of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea
References
Bibliography
External links North Korean Army Equipment North Korean Air Force Equipment