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New Delhi. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken another big step towards increasing his naval strength. North Korea has included a new destroyer 'Kang Kon' with a capacity of about 5,000 tons in its navy. According to North Korean state news agency KCNA, Kim Jong Un attended the inauguration ceremony of the ship and talked about making it part of the country's Nuclear Response System.

The ceremony was held on September 6 in the port city of Wonsan in eastern North Korea. During this, Kim said that now the time has come for North Korea to firmly establish its sovereignty under the sea and water. However, North Korean media have not clarified whether the Kang Kon destroyer will be directly armed with nuclear weapons.

Second big warship after Choe Hyon

Kang Kon is said to be North Korea's second destroyer of this class. About three months before this, the ceremony of induction of a destroyer named 'Choe Hyeon' into the Navy was held on the west coast of the country.

According to KCNA, the new Kang Kon may be fitted with the same weapon systems as the Choe Hyeon. This indicates a significant increase in North Korea's maritime military capability.

Capability of missiles carrying nuclear weapons?

North Korea has not made public the complete information about the weapon systems present on the new warship. However, according to previous reports by KCNA, a variety of missile systems could be deployed on Choe Hyon. Analysts believe that some of these missiles may also be capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

This is the reason why concern about Kang Kon may also increase at the international level. It is currently unclear whether the new destroyer has actual nuclear weapons deployed or is merely equipped with weapon systems capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

North Korea engaged in naval modernization

According to Reuters, North Korea has also increased its emphasis on naval modernization amid efforts to expand its nuclear weapons and strategic capabilities. Kim Jong Un said at the ceremony that North Korea's naval nuclear weapons capability is continuously developing.

He also said the country will continue to expand its most powerful strategic capabilities in key maritime areas to safeguard maritime sovereignty and regional security.

Emphasis on 'ocean and underwater sovereignty'

During the ceremony held in Wonsan, Kim Jong Un gave clear indications about North Korea's maritime strategy. He said that now is the time for the country to strengthen its sovereignty in the sea and submerged areas.

The induction of the new destroyer into the Navy is being considered a part of this broader strategy. North Korea is already rapidly advancing nuclear and missile programs. Now its efforts to add modern warships and potentially nuclear-capable missile systems to its naval capability may further complicate the regional security equation.

However, complete information has not yet been revealed by North Korea on what weapons have actually been deployed on Kang Kon and how extensive its nuclear role will be.