After the new missile launch, Kim Jong-un visited North Korea’s naval shipyards and asked them to “intensify war preparations”.

North Korea extended its provocative streak of weapons tests with the launch of cruise missiles into the sea on Friday, while its leader, Kim Jong-unDuring the visit to the shipyard, the army was asked to intensify its war preparations.

He South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff He said that the armies Seoul and Washington They were analyzing North Korea’s maneuvers in its western waters and noted that several missiles had been detected, but did not provide an exact number or immediately assess their flight characteristics.

Throw – quarter Pyongyang It came hours after state media reported that Kim had expressed interest in strengthening his navy while inspecting unspecified projects at a shipyard — along with cruise missiles in 2024. Nampho

on the west coast of the country.

In recent months, Kim has emphasized his efforts to achieve a nuclear-capable navy to counter what he describes as a growing external threat. United States, South Korea and Japanwhich has intensified their military cooperation to address North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons program.

This Korean Central News Agency It is not indicated when the visit is Kim to Nampho. In addition, he explained to the President by saying that strengthening his navy “is presented as the most important issue to reliably protect the country’s maritime sovereignty and intensify war preparations.”

The ACNC did not specify what types of ships are being built at Nampho, but said they are linked to a five-year military development plan announced at the party congress in early 2021. At the time, Kim revealed an extensive wish list for an advanced military. assets. , which includes nuclear-powered submarines and nuclear-capable missiles that can be launched from underwater.

During the inspection, Kim was briefed on progress in his naval projects and technical challenges ahead, and ordered workers to complete the effort “unconditionally” within the timeframe set by the plan, which ends in 2025, the agency added. State news.

for its part, Kim Inai, a spokesman for the South Korean Unification Ministry indicated that this was the first time, according to the department, that state media reported Kim’s military inspection in Nampho. This may indicate an expansion of the naval project from the eastern Shinpo shipyard, where the submarines were built. The spokesman did not specifically answer a question about whether Seoul believes Pyongyang is using the Nampho for the purpose of building nuclear submarines.

“By making regular military threats, North Korea is trying to create a sense of insecurity among South Koreans in order to undermine the confidence of the South Korean people in its government and attract international attention so that its demands to resolve the crisis in South Korea should be accepted. “The Korean Peninsula,” he added.

South Korea’s military said its special operations troops were wrapping up a 10-day training session in an area near Seoul on Friday with US Green Berets in the allies’ latest joint exercise. In recent months, the two countries have conducted extensive exercises, including several trilateral maneuvers with Japan.

(with information from AP)