North Korean leader Kim Jong Un put his second naval destroyer into service and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent.
According to ABC News, North Korean state media on Monday, September 7, reported that Kim put second nuclear-capable destroyer into service as the United States, South Korea and Japan began a trilateral military exercise he views as a security threat.
The ship's commissioning comes as North Korea is dialing up pressure on the US after rebuffing President Donald Trump's decision to scale back a major military drill with South Korea in a conciliatory step toward Kim.
The destroyer Kang Kon was commissioned into North Korea's navy in the eastern port city of Wonsan Sunday at a ceremony attended by Kim and his teenage daughter, whom South Korea’s spy service calls his likely heir.
North Korean state media photos showed the girl in a white dress and blazer walking alongside her father on a red carpet, touring the warship and posing with sailors.
Kim Jong Un takes jab at “enemies”
In a speech at the ceremony, Kim said the back-to-back warship additions instilled fear in the enemies as the nuclear armament of North Korea's navy made it possible to exercise its nuclear deterrent in a more diversified, practical manner.
Kim said, “The enemies’ concerns will surely be deepened. We must establish more clearly a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent, to put into practice the diverse and effective operation of our nuclear combat systems and further strengthen our military activities for maritime defense and war deterrence.”
The ship and the Choe Hyon, which was put into service in June, are both 5,000-ton destroyers that state media said can carry various conventional and nuclear weapons.
Experts say considering North Korea’s biggest and most advanced warships, the two destroyers were likely built with Russian assistance.
In July, North Korea said it test-fired nuclear-capable cruise missiles from the Kang Kon.
