North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday reasserted his goal of increasing the military’s “war preparedness,” according to state media.
His comments came as he toured a shipyard in Nampo to strengthen his country’s navy, and as the country’s military conducted a weapons test in which it fired a cruise missile into the sea.
In recent months, Mr. Kim has ramped up efforts in his country’s industry, with the goal of building a nuclear-armed navy to counter perceived threats from South Korea, the United States and Japan.
According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim said during a tour of naval facilities that the navy is “the most important task in ensuring the country’s maritime sovereignty and strengthening war preparations.”
North Korea announces third cruise missile test within a week, South Korea announces
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center) visits a shipyard in Nampo, North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the events depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Agency, Associated Press)
According to the Korean News Agency, the warships being built in Nampo are related to the five-year military development plan formulated at the ruling party’s congress in early 2021, but did not specify the type of warships being built.
According to KCNA, Kim ordered workers at the shipyard to complete the work “unconditionally” within the planned period of 2025.
The warships being built in Nampo are related to a five-year military development plan set for 2021, KCNA reported. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Agency, Associated Press)
Kim has previously unveiled an extensive wish list of advanced military assets, including nuclear submarines and the ability to launch nuclear missiles from underwater.
North Korea is using AI in its nuclear program: Report
South Korean Unification Ministry spokesperson Kim In-hye said this was the first time the ministry had learned that the North Korean dictator was conducting military inspections in Nampo.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Kim’s visit was the first time it had learned that the North Korean dictator was conducting military inspections in Nampo. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Agency, Associated Press)
“By normalizing military threats, North Korea creates a sense of insecurity among the South Korean people, undermines trust in its government, attracts international attention, and accepts North Korea’s demands to resolve the South Korean crisis. “We’re trying to create an atmosphere that has to be on the peninsula,” she said.
The comments came hours before North Korea’s military launched several projectiles into the West Sea.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had confirmed multiple missile launches by the U.S. and South Korean militaries, and said it was analyzing the number of specific projectiles and would provide an assessment of the flight situation.
The launch was North Korea’s fourth cruise missile test in 2024.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
