Kim Jong Un inspected a submarine with a displacement of 8,700 tons and familiarized himself with new developments in the field of "secret underwater weapons," as well as plans for reorganizing the naval forces and creating new units, as reported by the Korean Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA).
The North Korean leader emphasized that the construction of a strategic nuclear submarine is crucial for the country's self-defense. He expressed the opinion that the joint efforts of South Korea and the United States to create a nuclear fleet will only increase instability on the Korean Peninsula. "This is seen as an act of aggression that threatens our country's maritime sovereignty and security, which must be responded to," Kim Jong Un stated.
According to the leader of the DPRK, Pyongyang must "show its adversaries that they will face consequences for their actions and encounter severe retaliatory measures if they attempt to use force." He added that the naval forces will be continuously strengthened, with an emphasis on building new surface and underwater vessels and integrating them with various offensive systems. "We will actively develop and expand our fleet," he noted.
In March of this year, Kim Jong Un already visited a shipyard where he announced plans to build the country's first nuclear submarine. This submarine will be part of an ambitious program to develop modern weapons, including spy satellites and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles. The South Korean agency Yonhap reports that North Korea has about 150 nuclear warheads and could potentially increase this number to more than 400 by 2040.
