Government: "If North Korea's 'Defense Economic Project' is Weapon Export, It Is Regrettable"

Kim Jong-un's Unprecedented Inspection of Military Factory
"Multiple Strategies Including Response to ROK-US Joint Exercises"

The government took note of North Korea recently revealing the schedule of Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, inspecting military factories and mentioning the 'defense economy project' for the first time. It expressed regret and criticized that if this implies illegal 'arms exports,' it is a clear violation of UN sanctions.

On the 7th, Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office Complex that regarding North Korea's intention in revealing Kim's inspection schedule through state media the previous day, "North Korea's intention is analyzed as a multi-purpose move to showcase achievements in the defense sector, respond to the South Korea-US joint military exercises, and even arms exports."

Goo Byung-sam, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification [Photo by Yonhap News]

Spokesperson Koo stated, "We deeply regret that North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), as well as conventional weapons, while sacrificing the livelihood of its people."

He particularly described the use of the term 'defense economy project' in conveying Kim's directives as "very unusual." Spokesperson Koo emphasized, "If this means arms exports, it is a self-declaration of intent to violate the UN Security Council resolutions, which is deplorable." However, he added that the true intention behind North Korea's use of the term 'defense economy project' needs to be observed further.

Earlier, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong-un, during his local guidance of important military factories from the 3rd to the 5th, presented the key directions of the 'defense economy project,' including addressing issues arising in factory management operations and capability-building projects to produce new types of ammunition in series. The disclosure of Kim's military factory inspection schedule came after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's visit to North Korea and North Korea's visit to an armed equipment exhibition, which was interpreted externally as suggesting the possibility of North Korea exporting weapons to Russia.

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