Kim Jong Un announces the inauguration of the North Korean destroyer 'Kang Geun' and stresses the strengthening of the navy's nuclear capabilities

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the destroyer "Kang Geun", with a capacity of 5,000 tons, is the second warship of its class to enter service, after the destroyer "Choe Hyon" was launched on the west coast about three months ago. The new ship has the same class and weapons systems as the Choi Hyun, which was able to launch strategic cruise missiles during previous tests.

In a speech he delivered during the ceremony, which he attended alongside his wife and daughter, Joo-ae, Kim said that the inauguration of the ship in the East Sea carries “incomparable importance,” stressing that simply announcing its entry into service “will be sufficient to inform the world of our position and vision,” and that it will send “a clear signal to enemies,” whose fears will inevitably increase.

In his speech, the full text of which was published, Kim stressed that “the time has come to exercise our sovereignty at sea and under water as well,” noting that arming naval forces with nuclear weapons has become “more appropriate, diversified and practical for the use of deterrence.”

He added: "By demonstrating our strong and reliable capabilities to deter nuclear war, we must practically apply the diversified and effective operation of nuclear combat systems."

Kim pointed out that the modernization witnessed by the Navy in just two or three years was a major achievement, considering that the new destroyer "is not just a combination of economic, defensive and scientific power, but rather an embodiment of the state's solid will to protect its interests."

Kim revealed that his country is currently implementing an "important plan" to strengthen its naval forces, vowing to prove this to the world within eight months. The ambitious plans include: building new naval bases on the east coast, establishing new naval units, and building different classes of warships, including ships weighing up to 10,000 tons, at a rate of two large ships annually over the next five years.

Extensive tests were conducted on the destroyer "Kang Geun" last July under Kim's supervision, which included launching strategic winged missiles and electronic and anti-ship warfare systems.