North Korea's Kim orders 10,000-tonne destroyer and underwater weapons push

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the navy to build a 10,000-tonne destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons, according to state media. The announcement came after Kim inspected warships and supervised a naval test as he continued a series of military visits ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's trip to Pyongyang next week. The reported orders point to a further expansion of North Korea's naval ambitions at a time of heightened military signalling.

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State media said Kim boarded the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon on Thursday and observed another 5,000-tonne warship, the Choe Hyon, during the test. It also said he had called for an "exponential" expansion of the country's atomic arsenal during a visit to a newly opened nuclear material production facility. Xi is due to visit Pyongyang from June 8 to 9, his second visit in seven years, in what is being presented as a significant diplomatic moment for North Korea and China.

The Kang Kon had partially capsized during a launch ceremony last year and was later repaired before being relaunched. State media said Kim was joined during the ship inspection by his daughter, believed to be a teenager named Ju Ae, in a photograph released by the authorities. A senior analyst in South Korea said this was the first time North Korea had publicly mentioned a plan to build a 10,000-tonne destroyer, suggesting the announcement may be intended to demonstrate progress before Xi's arrival.

The timing matters because the naval order sits alongside North Korea's broader push to strengthen its military across land, sea and air. Kim said the country needed stronger naval capabilities to deter a nuclear attack, linking the shipbuilding drive to the wider security posture of the state. The visit by Xi also carries diplomatic weight because China remains North Korea's only formal treaty ally, even as Pyongyang has deepened ties with Russia.

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The latest announcement follows a series of recent military developments reported by state media, including the repair and relaunch of the Kang Kon after its launch accident in Chongjin port in May 2025. Kim had described that incident as a "criminal act" that could not be tolerated, underlining the political importance attached to naval programmes. The renewed focus on larger warships and underwater weapons suggests North Korea is trying to project both technical progress and strategic resolve.

What remains unclear is how quickly the 10,000-tonne destroyer can be built, what the secret underwater weapons programme involves, and whether the claims can be independently verified. It is also not known whether the naval announcements are meant primarily for domestic audiences, for China, or for wider regional signalling. The key event to watch next is Xi's June 8-9 visit, which may offer further clues about the direction of North Korea's military and diplomatic strategy.

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