Kim Jong Un orders 10,000‑tonne destroyer for Xi visit
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- Kim Jong Un ordered the North Korean navy to build a 10,000‑tonne destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons.
- Kim Jong Un inspected the 5,000‑tonne destroyer Kang Kon (formerly Kang Won, which capsized in May 2025 and was repaired) and the 5,000‑tonne warship Choe Hyon during a naval test, accompanied by his teenage daughter Ju Ae.
- Xi Jinping will visit Pyongyang on June 8‑9, his second visit in seven years, to strengthen ties with North Korea amid its close relationship with Russia.
- Hong Min, senior analyst at South Korea’s Institute for National Unification, said this is the first public NK plan for a 10,000‑tonne destroyer, likely meant to showcase capability before Xi’s trip.
Why it matters: North Korea will add a 10,000‑tonne destroyer and secret underwater weapons, boosting its naval deterrence and giving China a more capable ally just before Xi’s June 8‑9 visit, shifting regional power calculations.
