PYONGYANG — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has demanded an accelerated expansion of the nation’s naval capabilities, ordering the development of advanced surface and underwater combat vessels to counter what Pyongyang terms intensifying military threats and hostile actions from the United States.
During an inspection of the key Nampho Shipyard on the west coast, Kim examined a new warship currently under construction and called for a modernization of the country’s naval base operations. State media reported that Kim expressed satisfaction with the progress, noting that the new vessel is substantially larger than the destroyers deployed by North Korea over the past year. Stressing that an advanced, high-tech fleet is vital for national sovereignty, Kim emphasized that present-day security challenges require Pyongyang to build the most formidable warships to defend its maritime territory.
The naval directive coincided with sharp warnings issued by Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, who firmly rejected recent diplomatic overtures from Washington. Slamming the United States over allegations linking North Korea to recent global cyber incidents, she stated that Pyongyang sees no purpose in holding talks with an administration maintaining an “invariable hostile policy.”
The push for naval dominance forms part of a broader effort by North Korea to upgrade its maritime forces, following the commissioning of nuclear-capable destroyers earlier in the year. With modernizations planned for secondary ground docks and automated assembly systems at Nampho, Pyongyang aims to sustain simultaneous production and repair operations, signaling an aggressive, long-term expansion of its naval combat posture.
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