North Korea, Kim: "We will have the most powerful warships in the world"

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has promised to equip the country with the "most advanced and powerful warships" in the world, as part of an ambitious program to upgrade its military fleet. Kim visited the Nampho shipyard, where work is underway on the construction of a new warship, state news agency KCNA reported. North Korea is rapidly modernizing its navy, with 5,000-ton destroyers entering service. Kim has also promised to equip the fleet with nuclear weapons and build even larger units, weighing 10,000 tons.

Pyongyang wants to counter "threats from the United States and South Korea"

According to Pyongyang, strengthening the navy is necessary to counter threats from the United States and South Korea. The program aims to expand the operational capabilities of a fleet traditionally focused on the defense of coastal waters. "The recent geopolitical environment and the hostile acts of our adversaries demonstrate the need to possess the most advanced and powerful warships," Kim said, quoted by KCNA. The North Korean leader claimed that the ship under construction will be equipped with "a combat system with operational capabilities that no other country in the world possesses", underlining the "remarkable military importance of this enormous concentration of firepower". “We must defend our homeland, ensure our sovereignty and deter any threat,” he added. Kim expressed "great satisfaction" after inspecting the unit, calling it "incomparable compared to the destroyer built last year."