---
title: "North Korea's Kim Jong Un lauds restored destroyer, says more to be built"
description: "SEOUL, June 13 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended on Thursday the launching ceremony of a warship that had been damaged upon its first attempt to launch, state media KCNA said on Friday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-13-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-lauds-restored-destroyer-says-more-to-be-built/"
published: "2025-06-13T05:10:52"
updated: "2025-06-13T05:10:54"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 170
---

# North Korea's Kim Jong Un lauds restored destroyer, says more to be built

> SEOUL, June 13 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended on Thursday the launching ceremony of a warship that had been damaged upon its first attempt to launch, state media KCNA said on Friday.

By Reuters · Published 13 June 2025, 07:10 SAST · Updated 13 June 2025, 07:10 SAST

## Key points
- In a dramatic display of nautical ambition, Kim Jong-un vows to resurrect a capsized destroyer and conjure two more, all while promising that North Korea's maritime might will soon have adversaries nervously clutching their binoculars along the Pacific's edge.
- Satellite images reveal ongoing repairs on North Korea's 5,000-ton destroyer, which partially capsized in May.
- Kim Jong-un asserts that restoration efforts won't hinder naval power enhancement, with plans for two more destroyers next year.
- The North Korean leader emphasizes strengthening maritime military presence in the Pacific amid perceived U.S. provocations.
- Kim warns adversaries of the consequences of their actions, promising an expanded naval presence in sovereign waters soon.

## Content

Satellite images had shown ongoing repairs of the 5,000-ton destroyer that had partially capsized in May, after Kim called the accident a "criminal act" and ordered its restoration before a party meeting in June.

Kim said the restoration of the destroyer "had not delayed" North Korea's attempts to enhance naval power, and said plans were in place "to build two more 5,000-ton destroyers next year", KCNA said.

Kim called for the country to strengthen its maritime military presence in the Pacific Ocean in the face of what he said were provocations by the U.S. and its allies, KCNA said.

"Soon, enemies will experience themselves how provocative and unpleasant it is to sit and watch the ships of an adversary run rampant on the fringes of sovereign waters," Kim said in a speech at the ceremony, according to KCNA.

"I'm sure that in the near future, the routes of our battleships... will be opened on the Pacific Ocean toward the outposts of aggression."

(Reporting by Joyce Le; Editing by Sandra Maler)