Kim Jong Un has unveiled a new naval destroyer that can apparently launch nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
The North Korean leader says the warship is a significant advancement towards his goal of expanding the operational range and pre-emptive strike capabilities of his military.
Mr Kim says his country’s continued arms build-up is a response to perceived threats from the US and its allies in the region, who have been holding military drills.
He vowed to “respond decisively to this geopolitical crisis and ongoing developments,” according to his speech carried by state news agency KCNA.
The new “multi-purpose” destroyer, weighing in at 5,000 tonnes, was touted as the first in a new class of heavily armed warships.
It is equipped with the “most powerful weapons” and was built “within 400-odd days,” Jo Chun Ryong, a secretary in the
ruling Workers’ Party, was quoted as saying.
The warship is designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-naval weapons, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles, according to Mr Kim.
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A nuclear-powered submarine would be the next big step in strengthening his navy, the North Korean leader added.
Some experts have questioned whether the secretive and impoverished nation could develop such advanced capabilities without foreign assistance.
Regional tensions have increased as North Korea continues to flaunt its military capabilities while also assisting Russia with its war in Ukraine.
