Kim says North Korea to arm navy with nuclear weapons, build bigger warships
The leader is aiming to construct two vessels a year, both of a larger class than the newly commissioned Choe Hon destroyer
The remarks came at the commissioning of the Choe Hyon – one of two 5,000-tonne class warships the nuclear-armed state launched last year – in the port city of Nampo on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
“The programme of equipping the navy with nuclear weapons is following its planned course unerringly,” Kim reportedly told the ceremony.
“This is a strategic course of crucial importance as it will make it possible to keep the nuclear force of our state ready for multifaceted and efficient operation,” he said.
North Korea has previously said the Choe Hyon is equipped with the “most powerful weapons”, and Kim has made multiple inspections of vessels in its class this year, including overseeing a cruise missile test from the Choe Hyon in April.
“Following the Choe Hyon, we will soon commission destroyer Kang Kon for operations. After that we will launch 10,000-tonne strategic warships one after another,” Kim said in his speech.