North Korea to build 10,000-ton destroyer, state media says before Xi visit

North Korea has revealed ambitious plans to construct a 10,000-ton destroyer and develop undisclosed underwater weaponry, according to state media reports released Saturday. The announcement coincides with the impending visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his first trip to Pyongyang in nearly seven years.

During a naval test supervised by leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that Kim directed the navy to expedite the deployment of the new destroyer, named Kang Kon, along with another 5,000-ton warship, the Choe Hyon. This marks the first mention of a plan to build a destroyer of this size by North Korea, according to Hong Min, a senior analyst at South Korea's Institute for National Unification.

Analysts suggest Kim may be leveraging this announcement to display the country's military advancements ahead of Xi's visit. The North Korean leader emphasized the necessity of bolstering naval capabilities to deter nuclear war and called for formidable military power across land, sea, and air. China, North Korea's sole formal treaty ally, is reportedly seeking to strengthen its ties with Pyongyang.

The report also noted Kim's presence with his daughter, believed to be teenager Ju Ae, during the ship inspection, as depicted in a newspaper photograph. This follows Kim's earlier call for an "exponential" expansion of North Korea's nuclear arsenal during a visit to a nuclear material production facility. Previously, a 5,000-ton destroyer, the Kang Kon, had partially capsized during a launching ceremony in May 2025, an incident Kim condemned. After repairs, a second launch ceremony was held the following month.

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Pyongyang must enhance its naval capabilities to deter a nuclear war, while calling for powerful military capabilities across land, sea and air.