Kim Jong Un vows nuclear-armed navy for North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to transform his country’s navy into a nuclear-armed force, state media reported, as new military exercises involving US allies got underway.

The drills, involving Japan, South Korea, and the United States, were launched in 2023 to deter missile and nuclear threats posed by Pyongyang.

Kim made the remarks during a ceremony in the coastal city of Wonsan marking the return to service of the warship Kang Kon, which partially capsized during its launch in May 2025, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim was quoted 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 an order is given at any time, the new-generation destroyer must deliver a deadly retaliatory strike against the enemies as part of the state’s nuclear counterstrike system.”

Images showed his daughter, Ju Ae, who is believed to have been chosen as his successor, attending the event alongside him.

Kim oversaw a test of the Kang Kon in July.

The vessel is one of two 5,000-ton warships launched last year.

Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University, said Kim’s reference to a “nuclear-armed navy” suggested that the vessels could serve as platforms for launching tactical cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Kim also revealed that North Korea is carrying out an “important plan” to strengthen its naval power, the results of which would be unveiled to the world “within eight months.”

The US-allied exercises, known as “Freedom Edge,” are scheduled to continue until Friday in international waters east and south of South Korea’s Jeju Island.

The drills went ahead despite President Donald Trump scaling back another set of military exercises with South Korea as part of efforts to reopen diplomatic channels with Pyongyang over its nuclear program.