North Korea has announced plans to build a 10,000-ton destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons, days before Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to visit the country.
The announcement was carried by the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Saturday following a naval test overseen by leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday.
According to the report, Kim ordered the navy to deploy the destroyer Kang Kon and another 5,000-ton warship, the Choe Hyon, as soon as possible.
It is the first time North Korea has publicly disclosed plans to construct a 10,000-ton destroyer, according to Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Hong said Kim may be seeking to highlight North Korea’s military capabilities ahead of Xi’s visit.
The North Korean leader said Pyongyang must strengthen its naval forces to deter a nuclear war and called for stronger military capabilities across land, sea and air, the newspaper reported.
Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit North Korea on Monday and Tuesday, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years. Beijing is seeking to reinforce relations with Pyongyang, its only formal treaty ally.
Before the visit was announced, Kim called for an “exponential” expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal during a visit on Thursday to a newly operational nuclear material production facility.
Photographs published by the newspaper showed Kim inspecting ships alongside his daughter, believed to be a teenager named Ju Ae.
North Korea said in May 2025 that a 5,000-ton destroyer partially capsized during a launch ceremony at Chongjin Port. Kim, who attended the event, condemned the incident and described it as a “criminal act” that could not be tolerated.
After repairs were completed at Rajin Port, the vessel was relaunched the following month and officially named Kang Kon.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
