North Korea's Navy Moving Towards Nuclearization, Kim Jong Un: Build 2 Warships Annually for Next 5 Years

SEOUL (CNA, June 24) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated at the commissioning ceremony of a destroyer that two warships of the same scale as the 5,000-ton "Choe Hyon" should be built annually for the next five years to further strengthen the navy's capabilities, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported today.

Kim Jong Un attended a ceremony held yesterday at Nampho port to celebrate the official deployment of the new multi-purpose destroyer "Choe Hyon".

KCNA reported that the "Choe Hyon" successfully completed various military operation tests within the past 14 months.

According to the report, Kim Jong Un stated that North Korea also plans to deploy another 5,000-ton destroyer, the "Kang Kon," in the near future and will subsequently build 10,000-ton strategic warships.

The "Kang Kon" experienced a partial capsizing accident during its launching ceremony last year and has since been repaired.

Kim Jong Un said that the navy has long been the weakest link in North Korea's military, but its combat power will now become "unimaginably strong."

Kim Jong Un also revealed that officials from the ruling Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee discussed plans for constructing new naval bases on the 22nd.

He stated that the most significant changes for the North Korean navy will be the enhancement of its status, role, and operational scope, but did not elaborate further.

Kim Jong Un emphasized that the nuclearization of the navy is proceeding along the established path and will help strengthen the nation's nuclear deterrence. (Compiled by Hsu Rui-cheng) 1150624

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