Kim Jong UnInspects Repaired Warship, Vows Accelerated Development of Nuclear‑Capable Navy Ahead of Xi Jinping Visit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed sea trials of a newly repaired warship, following a failed launch last year, and pledged to accelerate the development of a nuclear‑armed navy, highlighting his expanding military capabilities.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected sea trials of a newly repaired destroyer, pledging to expedite the construction of a nuclear‑capable navy, state media reported Saturday. The demonstration underscores his expanding military reach ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited the 5,000-ton destroyer Kang Kon on Thursday for capability testing. Photos released by the agency showed him accompanied by his teenage daughter, identified by South Korean officials as Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be emerging as a potential successor.

Kim Jong Un urged the rapid development of naval forces capable of playing a larger role in North Korea’s nuclear deterrent and delivering a decisive strike against any opponent, whether beneath or above the sea, KCNA reported. He said the navy is a central element of a new five‑year defense plan adopted at a recent ruling party congress, which calls for constructing larger 10,000‑ton‑class destroyers and developing undisclosed “underwater secret weapons.”

KCNA did not record any direct statements by Kim regarding Washington or Seoul amid ongoing tensions over his nuclear ambitions and a prolonged diplomatic stalemate. The report follows a day after North Korean and Chinese state media announced that Xi will travel to North Korea on Monday, reflecting Beijing’s renewed effort to strengthen ties with its nuclear‑armed ally. In recent years, Kim has emphasized cooperation with Russia, dispatching personnel and military equipment to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Xi’s visit was announced a day after North Korea revealed a new uranium‑enrichment facility, which South Korean military officials say is capable of producing nuclear bomb fuel. At the site, Kim pledged to expand the nation’s nuclear arsenal “at an exponential rate,” a step experts say is intended to solidify North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state ahead of Xi’s arrival.

Kang Kon is the second of the two destroyers North Korea unveiled last year, following the Choe Hyon, which Kim praised as a major advancement for expanding the operational range and preemptive strike capabilities of his nuclear‑armed military. State media said the vessels are equipped to carry various weapon systems, including anti‑aircraft, anti‑ship, nuclear‑capable ballistic and cruise missiles; however, some analysts have questioned their actual combat effectiveness.

Kang Kon sustained damage during a botched launch ceremony in May of the previous year at the northeastern port of Chongjin, prompting Kim to denounce the incident as “criminal.” The North Korean authorities announced that the ship was relaunched in June after repairs, though external experts remain doubtful about its full operational readiness. Kim has called for the construction of two additional 5,000‑ton‑class destroyers.

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