Kim Jong-un appears to be expanding his nuclear arsenal by ordering the secret building of a destroyer warship to beef up the North Korean Navy.

North Korea is building a second warship in its largest Chingjin class on the North Korean east coast. It comes after state-controlled media in the country revealed the first ship in the class being built on the west coast.

Construction of the warship is understood to have begun in May 2024 at the Chongjin Shipyard and is believed to be about 383 feet in length and 52 feet wide. It was being built in a camouflaged building that covers the construction site.

An SI Analytics NK Insight report released today also indicated the vessel is part of North Korea’s naval projects. Joost Oliemans, an expert on North Korean military, said it appeared to be a warship.

“You can see the bow turret emplacement cut-out as well as the section for the vertical launch system (VLS) both at the bow and stern,” he told NK Pro. Satellite imagery shows a large red hull being assembled in both locations.

While it is not clear what Kim Jong-un wants to equip the new destroyers with, analysts have hinted they could carry nuclear-armed cruise missiles. North Korea has long harassed its South Korean neighbour and recently also declared to threaten the US, a key ally to its great nemesis.

North Korean warned both US and South Korean reconnaissance flights across international waters by “constantly deploying a ship loaded with new-type anti-aircraft missiles,” NK Pro reported. North Korea is continuing to flex its military muscles having agreed to the deployment of its troops to aid the Russians against Ukraine.

Kim Jong-un has also taken a tougher approach to party loyalists having this month purging dozens of officials for taking part in a “group drinking spree.” The supreme leader was told that “more than 40 officials” in Onchon County, 30 miles west of Pyongyang and in Usi County, close to the Chinese border.

The spree is described as a “a reckless act unheard of in the history of our party”, according to the Rodong Sinmun, a regime propaganda publication. The report stated: “The group drinking spree openly committed in Onchon County is an act utterly contrary to the party’s line on building discipline.

“[This was] a grave crime of violating party discipline, and moral and cultural order, and an open denial of our party’s line of building discipline. Party officials at all levels should not lead an indolent and careless life like being treated to drinking bouts at public service facilities.”

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