Kim Jong Un vows to build nuclear-armed North Korean navy amid US allies' drills
Quick Look
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to transform the country's navy into a nuclear-armed force during the commissioning of the warship Kang Kon in Wonsan, as US-led maritime drills involving Japan and South Korea commenced nearby.
- He stated the new destroyer could deliver a deadly retaliatory blow if ordered, and referenced an eight-month plan to strengthen the navy, potentially foreshadowing a new SLBM-capable submarine.
- The drills, named Freedom Edge, continue despite Trump's reduction of other exercises with South Korea as he seeks diplomacy on North Korea's nuclear program.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
North Korea has long pursued nuclear weapons and delivery systems, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The Kang Kon warship, which partially capsized during launch in May 2025, is part of Pyongyang's efforts to bolster its naval capabilities. The US-led Freedom Edge drills, initiated in 2023, aim to counter North Korea's missile and nuclear threats through coordinated maritime exercises among allies.
Leader Kim Jong Un vowed to build North Korea's navy into a nuclear-armed force, state media reported Monday as US allies' maritime drills kicked off.
This week's manoeuvres involving Japan, South Korea and the United States were established in 2023 in what officials called an effort to deter Pyongyang's missile and nuclear threats.
Kim's comments came at the commissioning of the Kang Kon -- a warship that partially capsized when launched in May 2025 -- in the port city of Wonsan on Sunday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
"We should make sure that the diversified and effective operation of nuclear combat systems is conducted for an actual war through developing our navy into a nuclear armed force," Kim reportedly told the ceremony.
"Once ordered anytime, the new-generation destroyer should deal a deadly retaliatory blow at the enemies as it is a force involved in the state nuclear counteraction system," he said.
Photos released of Kim showed him accompanied by his daughter, Ju Ae, who is reportedly designated as a successor to her father.
Kim oversaw in July a test of the Kang Kon -- one of two 5,000-tonne class warships launched last year -- just over a year after it was damaged during its launch.
Kim's reference to a "nuclear-armed navy" suggests the vessels could serve as launch platforms for tactical nuclear-capable cruise missiles, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University.
Kim also said North Korea was carrying out an "important plan" to strengthen its navy that would be demonstrated to the world "in eight months".
That could foreshadow the unveiling of a major strategic asset, such as a new submarine capable of carrying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), Lim said.
By deploying the Kang Kon in the East Sea, Pyongyang is also seeking to keep the joint maritime exercises and deployments of nuclear assets "directly and within range", Lim said.
This week's US allies' drills, dubbed Freedom Edge, are set to run to Friday in international waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island.
The manoeuvres have pushed ahead despite President Donald Trump curtailling another set of drills with South Korea as the US leader aims to reopen diplomacy with Pyongyang about its nuclear programme.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
North Korea will unveil a new submarine capable of carrying submarine-launched ballistic missiles within eight months
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific nuclear combat systems will be deployed on North Korean naval vessels?
- When will the eight-month naval strengthening plan be completed and demonstrated?
- Will the new submarine referenced by analysts actually be unveiled in the predicted timeframe?
- How will the Trump administration's diplomacy efforts with North Korea evolve amid continued military drills?
