SEOUL, June 24(UNIPA News) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has directed the country to build two warships comparable in size to the 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon every year over the next five years, according to state media KCNA.

Kim made the remarks during a commissioning ceremony at Nampho port on Tuesday marking the deployment of the newly commissioned multipurpose destroyer Choe Hyon.

KCNA reported that the vessel successfully completed military operational tests conducted over the past 14 months before entering service.

During the ceremony, Kim said North Korea plans to deploy another 5,000-ton destroyer, Kang Kon, in the near future, alongside the development of larger 10,000-ton strategic warships.

The Kang Kon had previously suffered a partial capsizing during its launch ceremony last year but was subsequently repaired.

Kim described the navy as having been the weakest branch of North Korea’s armed forces and claimed its capabilities would now become “something incredible beyond imagination.”

He also emphasized the need to modernize naval infrastructure, calling the construction of new naval bases an urgent and essential task. According to KCNA, plans for additional naval bases were discussed during a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee on Monday.

Kim said the most significant change facing the navy would be a transformation in its status, role and operational scope, although he did not provide further details.

He further stated that the navy’s nuclearization program is progressing and contributing to North Korea’s overall nuclear deterrence strategy.