North Korean Leader Pledges to Turn Navy into Nuclear-Armed Force

Al-Taj News – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to transform his country’s navy into a nuclear-armed force, according to state media reports, as new military exercises by US allies got underway.

The exercises, being held this week with the participation of Japan, South Korea, and the United States, were launched in 2023 with the aim of deterring the missile and nuclear threats posed by Pyongyang.

Kim’s remarks came during a ceremony in the coastal city of Wonsan marking the recommissioning of the warship “Kang Kon,” after it partially capsized while being launched into the water in May 2025, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

The agency quoted Kim as saying, “We must ensure the diverse and effective operation of nuclear combat systems in preparation for an actual war by developing our navy into a nuclear-armed force.”

He added, “Once the order is issued at any time, the new-generation destroyer must deliver a lethal retaliatory strike against the enemies as part of the state’s nuclear counter-retaliation system.”