What North Korea’s new warship reveals about Kim’s moves to secure surrounding waters
Kim’s promised ‘important plans’ that will deepen the ‘concerns of the enemies’ are likely to be nuclear, observers say
“The nuclearisation of our navy is being realised, making it increasingly suited, diversified and practical for the use of our deterrent,” Kim said while commissioning the Kang Kon in the southeastern port of Wonsan on Sunday.
“We must make the practical operation of our nuclear combat systems more diverse and effective, and our military activities for maritime defence and war deterrence more explicit, by making our powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent more clear,” he said. “Concerns of the enemies will be surely deepened.”
North Korea was currently carrying out “important plans to strengthen our naval forces”, Kim said without elaborating. “I will demonstrate them to the world once again eight months from now.”
This specific time frame suggests that North Korea could unveil another large-scale asset, such as a submarine capable of carrying submarine-launched ballistic missiles or a nuclear-powered submarine, according to observers.