North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits tank factory, touts progress in Korean-style tanks

Kim Jong Un said producing cutting-edge tanks and armoured vehicles is key to modernising the army and reaching the ruling party's plan for "the second revolution in armoured force." (File photo)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected an "important" tank factory and touted "great progress in the core technology of Korean-style tanks," state media KCNA said on Sunday.

He said producing cutting-edge tanks and armoured vehicles is key to modernizing the army and reaching the ruling party's plan for "the second revolution in armoured force."

Kim’s visit comes amid a broader push to modernize North Korea’s conventional armed forces in addition to its nuclear and missile arsenals. The North Korean leader recently attended the launch of a new naval destroyer and tests of new drones, among other weapons.

South Korean and U.S. officials have said they suspect the North is receiving some technical and military help from Russia in return for sending ammunition, missiles, and troops for the war in Ukraine, but no details have been confirmed.