Overview
- State media says Kim reviewed construction of a nuclear-powered submarine displacing 8,700 tons and armed with strategic guided missiles.
- He examined plans for undisclosed undersea weapons and outlined the creation of new naval units as part of a broader force restructuring.
- Kim labeled South Korea’s pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine, approved by Washington, an offensive step that he said demands a response.
- He described strengthening the country’s nuclear shield as a matter of national prestige and a duty for the current generation.
- After an October summit in Gyeongju, U.S. President Donald Trump said Seoul would be permitted to build a nuclear-powered submarine, and South Korea’s national security adviser Vi Son Lak later said the two sides saw the need for a separate agreement.