Kim Jong Un has been visiting navy websites earlier than a go to by China’s Xi Jinping subsequent week
Printed On 6 Jun 2026
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has ordered his navy to construct a ten,000-tonne destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons, earlier than a go to by China’s Xi Jinping.
In keeping with the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Saturday, Kim supervised a naval take a look at on Thursday, boarding the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon and observing one other 5,000-tonne warship, the Choe Hyon, as he continues to go to navy and weapons websites earlier than Xi’s visit. The Kang Gained had partially capsized throughout a launch ceremony final yr and needed to be repaired.
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On Thursday, Kim had known as for an “exponential” enlargement of his nation’s atomic arsenal throughout a go to to a newly opened nuclear materials manufacturing facility.
Xi will go to Pyongyang from June 8 to 9, the Chinese language chief’s second go to in seven years, as he appears to convey North Korea, as its solely formal treaty ally, again into the fold amid its shut ties with Russia.
Kim mentioned Pyongyang needed to improve its naval capabilities to discourage a nuclear assault and known as for highly effective navy capabilities throughout land, sea and air, Rodong Sinmun reported.
Throughout his ship inspection, Kim was joined by his daughter, who’s believed to be a youngster named Ju Ae, in line with a photograph launched by the state information outlet.
In Might 2025, North Korea introduced {that a} 5,000-tonne destroyer had partially capsized throughout launch in Chongjin port. Kim, who was overseeing the ceremony, condemned the accident as a “legal act” that would not be tolerated. As soon as the ship was repaired at Rajin port, a second launching ceremony was held the next month, and the vessel was named Kang Kon.
Hong Min, a senior analyst at South Korea’s Institute for Nationwide Unification, advised the Reuters information company that this was the primary time that North Korea had talked about a plan to construct a ten,000-tonne destroyer.
Hong added that Kim is likely to be trying to showcase his nation’s capabilities earlier than Xi’s go to.
