North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the preparations for the construction of a naval base as part of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s (WPK) policy of building a strong army and outlined the areas of work necessary for this, the Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA) reports.
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It is noted that the DPRK Party considers strengthening the Navy its urgent task. Kim Jong-un was accompanied by the Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Committee of the WPK and the Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Marshal Park Chong Chon, the DPRK Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam, the Deputy Chief of the KPA General Staff, the Chief of the General Intelligence Directorate, Lee Chang Ho, the Commander of the KPA Navy, Kim Myong Sik, and the commanders of the East and West Sea Fleets.
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The DPRK leader inspected the port construction site, during which, together with senior staff, he discussed business issues related to the direction of construction.
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“Our state, a maritime country, which is surrounded by seas from the east and west, has always attached great importance to the development of the shipbuilding industry and the Navy in building the state and building the defense capability of the state,” Kim Jong-un said.
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He also mentioned the geopolitical advantage of the territory for the construction of a naval base as a strategically important point. Where exactly the base is being built is not mentioned.
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Kim Jong-un emphasized that in the near future the DPRK will have large surface and underwater ships, for which the existing mooring facilities are insufficient. Therefore, building a naval base to accommodate the latest capital ships is an urgent task. He also highlighted military measures to deploy air defense systems and coastal defense weapons to defend the future military port.
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KCNA also reports that the North Korean leader visited an enterprise of the military-industrial complex, where he got acquainted with the progress of weapons production.
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In addition, Kim Jong-un inspected the O Chin U Combined Artillery School, where he outlined ways to further strengthen all levels of military education of the DPRK army.
