North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled a new military program aimed at significantly expanding the country’s naval capabilities, including the construction of warships capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The announcement comes amid rising regional tensions and follows his recent public defense of expanding the country’s nuclear arsenal.

Speaking at a military event in the port city of Nampo in South Pyongan Province, Kim outlined plans under a new five-year defense strategy. He stated that the North Korean armed forces would begin equipping the navy with nuclear-capable systems and would pursue the construction of two major warships annually, including a 10,000-ton-class cruiser designed to enhance maritime power projection.

According to the state-run KCNA, the remarks were delivered during a ceremony marking the commissioning of the destroyer Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton-class warship launched last year.

“We must build two surface ships annually of a class superior to that of the ‘Choe Hyon,’ including a 10,000-ton cruiser,” Kim stated, adding that the plan also includes escort vessels, special-purpose ships, and the development of underwater weapons systems.

Kim emphasized that the naval build-up is intended to transform the navy into a fully fledged strategic force. He rejected longstanding perceptions of the navy as the weakest branch of the armed forces, asserting that its capabilities are rapidly advancing.

“The Navy is becoming a full-fledged service equipped with strategic means, as the nuclear weapon equipping program is progressing as planned,” he said, adding that the expansion would enhance “nuclear deterrence” and enable more flexible operational capabilities.

He further claimed that the Choe Hyon had already demonstrated advanced operational readiness, describing it as possessing “perfect and complete combat capability” and capable of reaching “unimaginable levels.”

The destroyer is named after Choe Hyon, a historical anti-Japanese revolutionary figure closely associated with state founder Kim Il Sung and the father of Choe Ryong Hae, a senior North Korean political figure.

The announcement underscores Pyongyang’s continued focus on strengthening its nuclear deterrent across multiple branches of the military, particularly its naval forces, as regional security dynamics remain increasingly volatile. (ILKHA)