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Kim Jong Un Wants to Turn North Korean Navy into a Nuclear-Armed Force

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Kim Jong Un said North Korea must develop its navy into a nuclear-armed force capable of using nuclear weapons effectively in a real war.
  • He made the remarks while commissioning the 5,000-ton Kang Kon, North Korea’s second destroyer in that class, three months after the Choe Hyon entered service.
  • South Korea, the United States and Japan began five-day military exercises near Jeju, which Seoul described as defensive and Pyongyang condemned as preparation for attack.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for the country’s navy to become a nuclear-armed force, linking the ambition to the commissioning of a new destroyer in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan.

Kim made the statement on Sunday as he formally placed the Kang Kon into service. The 5,000-ton vessel is North Korea’s second destroyer in its class. The country commissioned the Choe Hyon, its first destroyer in the class, three months earlier and has already conducted several weapons tests.

“We must ensure that nuclear weapons systems can be used in a versatile and effective manner for an actual war. To do this, we must develop our navy into a nuclear-armed force,” Kim said, according to the state news agency KCNA.

We must ensure that nuclear weapons systems can be used in a versatile and effective manner for an actual war. To do this, we must develop our navy into a nuclear-armed force.

· Kim Jong UnKim made the statement while commissioning the Kang Kon destroyer in Wonsan, according to KCNA.

Meanwhile, South Korea, the United States and Japan began five-day joint military exercises off South Korea’s Jeju Island. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff described the annual drills as defensive and aimed at countering North Korean nuclear and missile threats. Pyongyang regards such exercises as preparations for a war of aggression.

In mid-August, US President Donald Trump sharply reduced joint military exercises with South Korea, citing what he called his “very good relationship” with Kim and saying he expected to meet the North Korean leader later this year. Kim has not publicly responded to the offer of talks.

very good relationship

· Donald TrumpTrump used the phrase when explaining his decision to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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