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.
The report on Kim’s visit came a day after Chinese and North Korean state media announced that Xi would visit Pyongyang on Monday and Tuesday, signaling a renewed phase in relations between the two neighbors.
China remains North Korea’s main economic partner and a longstanding ally, although Pyongyang’s growing ties with Russia have raised questions about Beijing’s influence in the country.
Xi’s trip follows his meeting in Beijing in mid-May with U.S. President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders reaffirmed what they described as a shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea.
Kim, however, has repeatedly insisted that nuclear deterrence remains a top national priority and has ruled out talks with Washington or Seoul if they continue to demand denuclearization as a precondition.
In recent years, China has also softened its criticism of North Korea’s nuclear program, prioritizing regional stability and its broader strategic interests.
kor-daa-sk
