North Korea: "Missile Costs? Not Even One-Tenth of What Capitalist Countries Claim"

North Korean ballistic missile
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korean propaganda media recently refuted an expert analysis suggesting that North Korea’s repeated missile provocations have cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The propaganda outlet Ryugyong, on the 18th, referred to South Korean media reports estimating the cost of North Korea’s missile launches, claiming, "This is a typical malicious propaganda report that accuses us of not using large sums of money for the people but instead spending it on missile launches, thereby worsening the economic difficulties."

The report was presented in the form of introducing an article published by a 'Korean American.'

It continued, "'The $300 million cost theory' is an estimate based on the cost of missile production in capitalist societies," adding, "In socialist countries, labor costs, land costs, and raw material prices are completely different from the calculation methods of capitalist countries. The cost of missile launches in the Republic is less than one-tenth of that."

It also claimed, "Following the teachings of General Kim Jong-il that 'one can live without candy but not without bullets,' the Korean people have overcome times of hardship," and "Now, there is plenty of candy, and bullets are being produced easily."

Furthermore, it demanded, "As announced by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, the Americans, who have suffered defeat in the Republic’s military operations, are ultimately resorting to creating such 'fake news,'" and insisted, "Acts like 'demonizing Korea' must stop immediately."

North Korea has recently launched dozens of ballistic missiles, including 25 missiles in a single day on the 2nd, in protest against the South Korea-U.S. joint air exercise 'Vigilant Storm.' Based on the fact that a single short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) costs between $2 million and $3 million (approximately 2.5 billion to 4 billion KRW), experts have analyzed that North Korea may have spent an amount equivalent to several years’ worth of rice import costs over the past six months.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.