N. Korea's Leader Attends Ceremonial Launching of Advanced Navy Destroyer

(LEAD) NK leader-destroyer

SEOUL, April 26 (Yonhap) — According to the North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the launch event of a new destroyer for his nation’s naval forces. He praised the military’s endeavors aimed at boosting their strength at sea. This was reported on Saturday.

On Friday, which marked the 93rd anniversary of the establishment of the People's Revolutionary Army, North Korea showcased its latest 5,000-ton multi-purpose destroyer during a ceremony at a shipyard located in the country’s western harbor city of Nampho, as reported by KCNA.

Kim participated in the event alongside his daughter, referred to as Ju-ae, and inspected the recently constructed naval warship dubbed Choe Hyon, honoring a late North Korean anti-Japanese revolutionary combatant.

According to the report, the vessel scheduled for delivery to the North Korean navy at the beginning of next year is equipped with weapon systems that greatly improve its capabilities in air defense, combating ships, countering submarines, and intercepting ballistic missiles.

It may additionally feature supersonic strategic cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles designed for accurate land strike missions.

At the event, Kim reportedly stated during his address that this destroyer will enhance the nation’s capability to “fully protect” its marine sovereignty and marks a significant beginning on North Korea’s journey towards becoming a formidable sea power.

Kim stated that the “capacity for launching aggression is directly proportional to the capacity for preventing aggression,” emphasizing the necessity of having a “deep-sea navy” due to the “grave threats” facing North Korea’s security situation, as reported by the KCNA.

Kim stated that "The most dependable method for preemptively and securely handling military threats on the Korean Peninsula, including nuclear risks, as well as preventing and halting attempts by adversarial foreign powers to strengthen their military stance in the region, lies in having maritime operational abilities."

He additionally committed to building more vessels of the "Choe Hyon class," along with bigger cruisers, and several kinds of escort ships in the coming year. He also announced plans for developing "nuclear-powered submarines" at some point in the future.

The leader of North Korea similarly condemned the combined military exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States in March along with their endorsement of a revised joint war operation plan. This information came to light during an earlier session of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee this month.

Kim stated that "The updated nuclear warfare strategy of the U.S. along with South Korea represents the most explicit indication of their antagonistic intentions towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which amounts to a clear danger for both regional stability and international tranquility." It should be noted that DPRK refers to North Korea officially.

We will address these geopolitical changes and rising patterns with firmness and implement appropriate counteractions.

nyway@yna.co.kr

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