Pyongyang, 24 June (H.S.):

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday announced an ambitious plan to strengthen the country's naval capabilities by equipping its navy with nuclear weapons and constructing a new generation of 10,000-ton warships.

The announcement came during the commissioning ceremony of the destroyer Choe Hyon at the western port city of Nampo. The vessel is one of two 5,000-ton-class destroyers introduced by North Korea as part of its military modernisation programme.

Addressing military officials and party leaders, Kim said the country's programme to arm its navy with nuclear weapons was progressing according to plan. He described the initiative as a strategic priority aimed at expanding the operational capability of North Korea's nuclear deterrent across multiple military domains.

Kim also revealed that another destroyer, Kang Kon, would soon enter active service. He added that North Korea intends to begin producing larger 10,000-ton strategic warships, including cruisers, with a long-term goal of launching two advanced surface combatants every year.

The announcement follows a series of naval demonstrations conducted by Pyongyang in recent months. Earlier this year, Kim personally supervised tests involving cruise missiles launched from the Choe Hyon, highlighting the regime's growing focus on enhancing its maritime strike capabilities.

During a ruling Workers' Party meeting that concluded on Monday, Kim accused the United States and South Korea of escalating military tensions in the region through expanded joint defence activities. He argued that these developments had pushed the Korean Peninsula closer to the risk of nuclear confrontation and justified continued investment in military modernisation.

North Korea has consistently maintained that its status as a nuclear-armed state is permanent. Diplomatic efforts to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme have remained stalled since the collapse of the US-North Korea summit in Hanoi in 2019 over disagreements on sanctions relief and denuclearisation measures.

The latest naval expansion plan is expected to draw close attention from regional governments and international security experts, who view North Korea's growing military capabilities as a significant challenge to stability in Northeast Asia. Despite extensive international sanctions targeting its nuclear and missile programmes, Pyongyang continues to prioritise the development of advanced strategic weapons.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar