North Korea showcases solid-fueled Hwasong-11 ballistic missile factory

North Korea has publicly revealed detailed images of a missile assembly factory producing at least two variants of its Hwasong-11 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), known internationally as the KN-23 and KN-24. These images, released during leader Kim Jong Un’s inspection of the facility, show a functioning production environment with numerous completed or near-completed missiles, indicating sustained manufacturing activity despite international sanctions. This level of transparency is unusual for North Korea and appears intended to signal both industrial capacity and operational readiness. The two Hwasong-11 variants are solid-fueled, road-mobile SRBMs designed for rapid deployment and launch, offering operational advantages such as long-term storage and minimal preparation time. The Hwasong-11A (KN-23) is a single-stage missile with a range of 400–800 kilometers, capable of carrying various warhead types, including potentially low-yield nuclear devices. It follows a depressed, quasi-ballistic trajectory with terminal maneuvers to evade