North Korea’s Kim orders navy to build 10,000-tonne destroyer: State media

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the navy to construct a 10,000-tonne destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons. This directive comes as Kim continues to inspect military and weapons sites ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang on June 8-9. During a naval test on Thursday, Kim boarded a 5,000-tonne destroyer and observed another warship. He emphasized the need to expand naval capabilities to deter nuclear attacks and called for enhanced military power across all domains. Kim was accompanied by his daughter during the ship inspection. This follows Kim's earlier call for an "exponential" increase in North Korea's atomic arsenal.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has recently showcased nuclear-processing capabilities, coinciding with an upcoming state visit from Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This move is reportedly driven by concerns over South Korea's nuclear submarine discussions with Washington and increased trilateral talks between the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Analysts suggest these developments have prompted Kim to reinforce North Korea's position as a nuclear-armed state. Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit North Korea on Monday and Tuesday at Kim's invitation, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.