North Korea’s Kim Says He Sees Nuclear Deterrent Role For Navy

By Sarina Yoo and Denny Thomas

Jun 6, 2026 (Bloomberg) –North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the navy must become part of the country’s nuclear war deterrent, using a ship inspection to underscore Pyongyang’s military ambitions ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit next week.

Kim made the remarks while observing navigation tests of the destroyer Kang Kon on June 4. The vessel was undergoing sea trials to evaluate its operational capabilities, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on Saturday.

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