North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has emphasized the importance of strengthening the country’s naval capabilities, stating that it is an urgent task.
During a visit to the construction site of a new “modern naval base,” Kim Jong-un expressed his commitment to enhancing North Korea’s maritime forces. He highlighted the strategic advantage the new facility will provide.
Late last year, Kim instructed North Korea’s military and weapons industry to “further accelerate war preparations” in response to what he perceives as “unprecedented” hostile actions by the US and its allies in the region.
Since then, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has stepped up missile testing and unveiled new weaponry, including a multiple rocket launcher and kamikaze drones.
On Sunday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Kim’s inspection of the port construction site. The report quoted Kim as emphasizing the urgent need to develop a modern navy, citing the “regional security environment.”
Kim also noted that North Korea’s geographic location, being “bounded on the east and west sides by the sea,” naturally necessitates a strong navy.
Kim reportedly said that the navy’s upcoming deployment of larger and more advanced warships and submarines necessitates a base capable of accommodating them.
He also unveiled plans to build a “modern port city” that will serve as the base for the country’s navy.
The US, South Korea, and Japan have repeatedly accused North Korea of escalating tensions in the region through its missile tests and other military displays. Pyongyang maintains that its military programs are purely defensive and aimed at deterring potential foreign aggression.
North Korea has repeatedly cited joint US-South Korean and US-Japanese military exercises in the region, which have at times involved American nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear-capable bombers, as evidence of Washington’s potentially hostile intentions.