North Korea’s Kim Orders Navy Ships to Be Equipped With Nuclear Weapons
SEOUL (Dispatches) - North Korea said Wednesday leader Kim Jong Un observed the test-firings of missiles from a recently launched destroyer — the first such warship for the North — and called for accelerating efforts to boost his navy’s nuclear attack capabilities.
North Korea last week unveiled the 5,000-ton destroyer equipped with what it called the most powerful weapons systems built for a navy vessel. During Friday’s launching ceremony at the western port of Nampo, Kim called the ship’s construction “a breakthrough” in modernizing North Korea’s naval forces.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim oversaw the first day of a two-day weapons test of the destroyer.
He subsequently ordered officials to focus on speeding up the development of the navy’s nuclear weapons capabilities.
North Korea has previously said that the vessel was equipped with the “most powerful weapons,” and that it would “enter into operation early next year.”
Experts suggest that, due to its size, the warship is likely equipped with both ship-to-surface and ship-to-air missiles.
KCNA reported that the April 29 test involved a “ship-to-ship tactical guided weapon, various kinds of ship-based automatic guns and smoke and electronic jamming guns,” utilizing the newly revealed vessel.
The North Korean leader says the country’s ship-based firepower system is “effectively combined” with the “most powerful strike means including supersonic cruise missile, strategic cruise missile and tactical ballistic missile.”
Since 2006, North Korea has been under crippling sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council over its nuclear capabilities.
North Korea says it is seeking nuclear weapons to counter threats from the United States and Washington’s allies, including South Korea.
In January, Kim warned of an “inevitable” confrontation with hostile nations and said 2025 would be a “crucial year” for bolstering North Korea’s nuclear forces.