By Jack&nbsp;Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) -&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean leader&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong&nbsp;Un&nbsp;has instructed&nbsp;factories&nbsp;making missile engines, artillery and other weapons to&nbsp;boost&nbsp;capacity&nbsp;as an important part of bolstering the country's defence capabilities, state media said on Sunday.
Kim's inspections from Thursday to Saturday included the production of engines for strategic cruise missiles and&nbsp;unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as shells for super large-calibre multiple-rocket launchers and transporter-erector-launchers, said state news agency&nbsp;KCNA.
His&nbsp;unusual visits to multiple&nbsp;arms&nbsp;production facilities over several days come as Pyongyang pushes to develop various strategic and conventional weapons and holds prominent displays of a range of&nbsp;arms.
The launchers&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;inspected are normally used to fire ballistic missiles.
North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has tested rocket launchers for larger calibre shells, advanced cruise missiles and last month its newest ballistic missiles, including a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.
Kim&nbsp;cited improved precision processing and modernised automation in the production of large-calibre multiple-rocket launcher shells,&nbsp;KCNA&nbsp;said.
He called for the mass production of "various kinds of cutting-edge strategic weapon engines... and thus make a great contribution to bringing about a revolution in developing new strategic weapons of our style," the agency said.
Photos showed&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;firing different types of assault rifles, with fiery blasts coming off the muzzle as he took aim at a target that was out of frame.
Cheong Seong-chang, an expert on&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea's political strategy at the Sejong&nbsp;Institute near Seoul, said&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;is likely focussed on modernisation and technical innovation of weapons that will help with the export of&nbsp;arms&nbsp;to Russia.
Marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the&nbsp;Korean War on July 27, Pyongyang held a major military parade displaying its newest nuclear-capable missiles and attack and spy drones, with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and a senior Chinese official joining&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;in the reviewing stand.
At a large defence exhibition,&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;gave Shoigu a tour of the display of ballistic missiles and what appeared to be a new drone.
The&nbsp;United States has accused&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;of providing&nbsp;arms&nbsp;to Russia for its war in Ukraine, including a "significant" number of artillery shells, as well as a shipment of infantry rockets and missiles to Russia's mercenary Wagner Group.
Russia and&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;have denied those claims.
&nbsp;
(Reporting by Jack&nbsp;Kim; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Daniel Wallis and William Mallard)

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Kim Jong Un tells North Korea arms factories to boost capacity -KCNA