North Korean leader hails restored warship, says more to be built
North Korea's Kim Jong-un called the warship's capsizing incident a 'criminal act' and ordered it restored. (EPA Images pic)
SEOUL : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended on Thursday the launching ceremony of a warship that had been damaged upon its first attempt to launch, state media KCNA said on Friday.
Satellite images had shown ongoing repairs of the 5,000-tonne destroyer that had partially capsized in May, after Kim called the accident a 'criminal act' and ordered its restoration before a party meeting in June.
Kim said the restoration of the destroyer 'had not delayed' North Korea's attempts to enhance naval power, and said plans were in place 'to build two more 5,000-tonne destroyers next year', KCNA said.
Kim called for the country to strengthen its maritime military presence in the Pacific Ocean in the face of what he said were provocations by the US and its allies, KCNA said.
'Soon, enemies will experience themselves how provocative and unpleasant it is to sit and watch the ships of an adversary run rampant on the fringes of sovereign waters,' Kim said in a speech at the ceremony, according to KCNA.
'I'm sure that in the near future, the routes of our battleships… will be opened on the Pacific Ocean toward the outposts of aggression.'
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