Kim Jong Un inspects North Korea naval base site

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected construction of a major naval base on the country's east coast, state news agency KCNA reported Thursday, as Pyongyang continues to expand its navy.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying the modern naval base was a “crucial core undertaking” for state security and the defence of maritime sovereignty. He said it should be completed at the required level of quality.

KCNA photos showed Kim walking around a seaside construction site and speaking with naval officials. The report did not give the base's exact location or scale.

The visit followed Kim's pledge last week to possess “the most advanced and powerful warships”. North Korea has been upgrading its navy, commissioning 5,000-tonne destroyers and testing ship-launched missiles. Kim has pledged to arm the fleet with nuclear weapons and build larger 10,000-tonne warships.

On Monday, North Korea test-fired a new high-speed torpedo system that KCNA said is expected to enter naval service in early 2027.