North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently declared that his nation is systematically arming its naval forces with nuclear weapons. This announcement accompanied his ambitious plan to construct a fleet of 10,000-ton warships, marking a significant escalation in the country’s military posture.
The statement was delivered during the commissioning of the Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton destroyer, at the Nampo shipyard. According to reports from the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim emphasized that integrating nuclear capabilities into the navy is a strategic necessity to ensure the state’s nuclear arsenal remains operationally versatile.
Kim detailed future expansion plans, noting that the Kang Kon destroyer will soon enter service. He further outlined a production goal of launching 10,000-ton cruisers annually to enhance the surface fleet’s power. This shift follows a recent party plenary session where Kim cited military advancements by South Korea and the United States as reasons for accelerating his country’s defense modernization. Since the 2019 diplomatic deadlock with the United States, Pyongyang has solidified its stance as a nuclear-armed state, remaining technically at war with the South due to the lack of a formal peace treaty following the 1950-53 Korean War.
