©picture alliance / YONHAPNEWS AGENCY | Yonhap
Ominous reports are coming out of North Korea, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has announced that the country’s navy is being equipped with nuclear weapons. The state news agency KCNA reported this on Wednesday. The military also plans to build 10,000-metric-ton warships. This official announcement is sure to draw the attention of the United States. So far, the U.S. president has not yet responded to this remarkable announcement from North Korea.
North Korea says it's equipping its navy with nuclear weapons and is working on much larger warships, including a 10,000-metric-ton destroyer. Kim Jong-un linked that announcement to the commissioning of the Choe Hyon, a new 5,000-metric-ton destroyer, and presented the navy as an essential component of the nuclear deterrent.
New naval strategy
According to KCNA, Kim stated in the western city of Nampo that the program to equip the navy with nuclear weapons is proceeding “according to schedule.” He called this a strategic choice intended to keep the state’s nuclear forces ready for “effective operations.” North Korea had previously stated that the Choe Hyon is equipped with powerful weapon systems, including missiles and anti-aircraft defenses.
Kim also announced that, following the Choe Hyon, the destroyer Kang Kon is ready to be commissioned. He added that Pyongyang plans to build even larger warships annually thereafter, including a class of 10,000-metric-ton vessels. Such ships would be comparable in size to U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, though it remains unclear how advanced North Korea’s technology is.
Political message
This remarkable announcement is part of the North Korean leader’s broader effort to publicly position his country as an irreversible nuclear power. Since the failed summit with Donald Trump in 2019, Pyongyang has increasingly emphasized that nuclear weapons are central to its security policy. In addition, closer military cooperation with Russia plays a role, as it partially mitigates the pressure of international sanctions.
Regional tensions
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said just this week that Trump wants to refocus attention on the North Korean issue, after initially focusing on Iran, according to Seoul. Lee pointed out that sanctions are less effective due to the changed geopolitical context and the ties between North Korea and Russia. A photo that Trump recently posted on social media—without explanation—of his meeting with Kim in Singapore fueled speculation that Washington is once again seeking an opening with North Korea.
©picture alliance / YONHAPNEWS AGENCY | Yonhap - illustrative image of the meeting between the Russian and North Korean leaders on September 3, 2025, in Beijing.