Leader Kim Affirms North Korean Navy Must Be Strengthened To Prevent And Prevent Provokers

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for strengthening naval combat power to "prevent and ward off enemy provocations as a whole," while visiting the country's first type of destroyer, state media reported Monday.

Leader Kim visited the destroyer Choe Hyon on Sunday, accompanied by important party and government officials, as part of his visit to a military hardware exhibition, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

During the visit, Leader Kim said "Our extraordinary naval capability must be deployed in the vast ocean to completely prevent or ward off and punish enemy provocations" in order to defend the country's sovereignty and security interests, according to KCNA, as quoted by The Korea Times October 6.

"Leader Kim noted that the Labor Party will continue its struggle without a second stagnation for the expansion and growth of a comprehensive and rapid naval combat force, which defends the core of national rights," the report added.

Leaders said, "The strongest warship that has sailed majestically over the oceans of this country in the historic year marking the 80th anniversary of the Party's founding is clear evidence of the strengthening and development of our self-sufficient armed forces," quoted by The Chosun Daily.

"This is another strong evidence of the legitimacy and vitality of our independent national defense lines," he continued.

"For the sake of sovereignty and national security interests, for the sake of the eternal peace of our country's oceans, tough naval capabilities must be deployed across the vast ocean to completely ward off and retaliate firmly against enemy provocations," said Leader Kim.

"There will be no temporary stagnation in the struggle for comprehensive and accelerated naval expansion and growth that oversees the core of the country's power," he stressed.

North Korea launched a versatile destroyer Choe Hyon weighing 5,000 tonnes in April, as part of its efforts to increase its naval power.

North Korea previously said Choe Hyon was equipped with supersonic strategic cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and other weapons.

In June, North Korea launched another destroyer from the same class, Kang Kon, after repairs, a month after the warship capsized and suffered damage during its first launch in May.

North Korea has focused on strengthening its navy with plans to build another 5,000-ton destroyer by October 2026.