Seoul, June 6 (EFE).- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a naval destroyer and stressed the need to strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrence capabilities at sea, state media reported Saturday, just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled visit to Pyongyang.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim visited the Kang Geon destroyer on Thursday during the initial phase of its evaluation tests.
Accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, who is increasingly viewed by observers as a possible successor, the North Korean leader called for the rapid modernization of the country’s naval forces to enhance their nuclear deterrence capabilities.
Kim said North Korea’s navy must be able to «deliver fatal blows to the enemy at any moment, both underwater and on the surface,» according to KCNA.
During the inspection, he highlighted the development and production of what he described as «secret underwater weapons» and the construction of 10,000-ton destroyers as key priorities for strengthening the navy.
