The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has urged to boost the development of the national Navy with the aim of transforming it into a “nuclear armed force” capable of stopping “enemy aggressive fleets.” His words came during a day in which he officially reintroduced to this body of the North Korean Army the destroyer Kang Kon, which suffered an accident at the Chongjin shipyard during its launching process.
“We must ensure that the diversified and effective operation of nuclear combat systems for real war is carried out through the development of our Navy as a nuclear armed force, and that military activities for maritime defense and war deterrence are carried out with greater clarity,” the leader defended, emphasizing the need for the military to manage to stop “enemy aggressive fleets,” achieving that they “strategically withdraw.”
According to the North Korean state agency KCNA, these statements were made during the commissioning ceremony of the Kang Kon, a warship presented as a key step in the modernization plan of the North Korean Navy.
In his speech, Kim Jong Un stated that the only way to safeguard peace is to ensure a balance of power, and reiterated Pyongyang’s determination to continue strengthening the military power of the country.
Just a few days ago, the North Korean leader had already ruled out any real process of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, attributing it to the “hostile” stance of the United States, which he then described as “persistent” and coming from an “increasingly dangerous” country.
In the same vein, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued that the nuclear arsenal allows “to guarantee containment” in the face of the “serious situation” the country is going through, which, he claimed, assumes “more risks” against U.S. policies, despite the attempts at rapprochement by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.