Kim Jong Un calls for 2 large warships per year in naval expansion plan: report
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday called for a major expansion of the country’s naval forces, suggesting that the regime should build two large warships every year for the next five years.
Speaking at a commissioning ceremony for a new destroyer, Kim suggested that North Korea should build two warships comparable in size to its 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class ship every year for the next five years, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim was celebrating the deployment of the new multi-purpose destroyer to Nampho port. In April, he observed two cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles being launched from the ship.
According to KCNA, the destroyer has successfully completed military operational tests over the past 14 months.
KIM JONG UN SUPERVISES THE LAUNCHING OF CRUISE MISSILE FROM PRECIOUS NEW NORTH KOREA WARSHIP
North Korea launched two cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon on April 12, according to North Korean state media. (Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP)
Kim has previously praised the development of Choe Hyon as a major step towards expanding the North Korean military’s operational range and pre-emptive strike capabilities.
Kim also said the navy’s nuclearization was “taking its course” and contributing to the country’s nuclear deterrent.
The naval build-up comes as Kim seeks to strengthen what analysts have long seen as one of the weakest arms of the North Korean military.
NORTH KOREA HAS RE-LAUNCHED A WARSHIP THAT SAME SHAMEFUL FAILURE DURING ITS FIRST LAUNCH.
The new multi-purpose destroyer Choe Hyon at the commissioning ceremony in the North Korean port of Nampho on Tuesday. (KCNA via REUTERS)
KCNA reported that Kim plans to deploy another 5,000-ton destroyer, the Kang Kon, along with larger 10,000-ton strategic warships.
Kang Kon was first unveiled in May last year but was damaged during a failed launch in the northern port city of Chongjin. The ship was later relaunched after repairs.
Kim said that with the addition of new capabilities, the North Korean navy “will become something incredible beyond imagination.”
IMAGES OF NORTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at the commissioning ceremony of the new multi-purpose destroyer Choe Hyon in the North Korean port of Nampho on Tuesday. (KCNA via Reuters)
“Building a modernized naval base turned out to be a hopeless and vital task,” he added.
State media reported that Kim was also reviewing plans to build new naval bases.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes strategic cruise and warship missiles fired from the Choe Hyon destroyer on April 12. (Korean Central News Agency/Reuters)
Speaking at the Workers’ Party Central Committee meeting on Monday, Kim said changes would be made to the navy’s status, role and scope of operations.
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He did not provide detailed information about what these changes would include.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond and Reuters contributed to this report.
