[Anchor]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated at a commissioning ceremony for a new destroyer that a "balance of power" has been established in the East Sea through the nuclear armament of the navy. He also threatened that if they come under attack, they will use "absolute might."

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong has the details.

[Reporter]

This is a satellite image of the Chongjin Shipyard in North Korea from May of last year.

The 5,000-ton destroyer Kang Gon is lying on its side.

The accident occurred during launching, and General Secretary Kim Jong-un was furious at the time.

At the commissioning ceremony for the Kang Gon held about 15 months later, Kim Jong-un expressed confidence that the commissioning of the nuclear-armed Kang Gon has achieved a "balance of power" in the East Sea.

[Kim Jong-un / General Secretary, Workers' Party of Korea: This is the issue that the enemies fear the most. It is that the nuclear armament of our navy has been realized, making the use of deterrence more suitable, diversified, and practical.]

He also issued a threat that if they are attacked, they will retaliate with nuclear weapons.

[Kim Jong-un / General Secretary, Workers' Party of Korea: Should they attempt to use military force against us, I will order comrades to use absolute might that will be most fatal to the enemy.]

This is interpreted as an intention to solidify "self-defense capabilities through nuclear weapons" first, despite U.S. President Trump's offers for dialogue.

Kim Jong-un also gave a preview that another naval strengthening measure will be unveiled 8 months later.

[Kim Jong-un / General Secretary, Workers' Party of Korea: We are currently executing important plans to strengthen our naval forces. I will prove it to the world once again eight months from now.]

Kim Jong-un previously visited the construction site of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine last December, and it is projected that he might unveil it then.

[Hong Min / Senior Research Fellow, Korea Institute for National Unification: Aside from nuclear-powered submarines and cruisers, nothing has been previously announced or detected in terms of circumstances. Therefore, unveiling a nuclear submarine is considered the most likely scenario.]

At the commissioning ceremony for the Kang Gon, Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae drew attention by sitting next to him dressed in a white suit.

(Video Editing: Park Chun-bae, Source: X (Airbus Defence and Space Open Source Center))