North Korea vows to build nuclear-armed navy as U.S. allies begin military drills

Kim Jong Un used the commissioning of a warship to promise a nuclear-capable North Korean navy, even as U.S. allies began maritime exercises in waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island.

State media reported that Kim spoke on Sunday at a ceremony for the Kang Kon in the port city of Wonsan. The warship partially capsized during its launch in May 2025, but Kim later supervised a test of the vessel in July. It is one of two 5,000-ton warships launched last year.

Kim said North Korea needed to ensure that nuclear combat systems could operate in a diversified and effective way in a real war by turning the navy into a nuclear-armed force. He also said the new-generation destroyer should deliver a lethal retaliatory strike against enemies once it entered service, as part of the country's nuclear countermeasure system.

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We must ensure that the diversified and effective operation of nuclear combat systems is carried out for a real war by developing our navy into a nuclear-armed force.

Photographs released by North Korea showed Kim with his daughter, Ju Ae, who state media reports have identified as his successor. The ceremony took place as Japan, South Korea and the United States launched Freedom Edge, drills established in 2023 in response to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats. The exercises are scheduled to continue through Friday in international waters.

The drills proceeded despite Trump's suspension of another set of exercises with South Korea as he sought to restart diplomacy with Pyongyang. Seoul and Washington concluded the shortened Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise last month. North Korea has shown little sign of reciprocating, instead launching missiles and condemning the drills, U.S. arms sales to South Korea and plans to fund programs documenting human rights abuses in the North. Pyongyang has repeatedly called itself an irreversible nuclear state since the 2019 Kim-Trump summit in Hanoi collapsed over denuclearization and sanctions relief.

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Once ordered into service, the new-generation destroyer should deliver a lethal retaliatory strike against enemies, as it forms part of the state nuclear countermeasure system.