Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, criticized the regular U.S.-South Korea joint exercise, the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), saying it is the most hostile declaration against North Korea and emphasized the will to strengthen its nuclear capabilities.
President Lee Jae-myung, in his speech commemorating the 80th anniversary of liberation on the 15th, extended gestures of reconciliation by stating, 'We will not pursue absorption unification,' but clearly indicated that there will be no change in the current confrontational structure.
On the 18th, when 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' began, the Chairman visited the Nampho Shipyard in South Pyongan Province and checked the integration and operational testing of the armament system of North Korea's first 5,000-ton new destroyer, 'Choi Hyun-ho,' according to the Korean Central News Agency report on the 19th.
He condemned this by stating, 'The U.S. and South Korea's joint military exercises, conducted again, are the most hostile and clearly show their intent to confront the Democratic People's Republic of Korea without hiding it.'
He further noted, 'The deepening military collusion and shows of military power by the U.S. and South Korea are the most apparent expressions of their intention to provoke war and are the source of the destruction of peace and security in the region,' and pointed out that 'the current situation requires us to seek a radical and rapid change in existing military theory and practice, along with a drastic expansion of nuclear armament.'
He said, 'The military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, which have become a norm for a long time, have never been devoid of provocative nature and risks, but recently, the seriousness has increased due to the characteristic that military collusion is attempting to include nuclear elements.'
In this situation, he ordered that the navy must play a role in strengthening national defense.
The Chairman encouraged, saying that the enhancement of the navy's operational capabilities is a 'most crucial national task,' stating, 'Our navy will become a reliable force that firmly takes part in the composition of national nuclear capability and in the realm of nuclear use in the near future.'
He emphasized that 'serious measures for the accelerated growth of national defense capabilities will surely continue to be taken,' adding that 'our firm will and capability to defend the nation's sovereignty and safety will be expressed through practical actions.'
The report stated that the Chairman expressed satisfaction over the gradual and planned advancement of the navy's modernization and nuclear armament during a briefing on Choi Hyun-ho that day.
The report indicated that the Chairman directed that assessments of the performance and operational capabilities of the destroyer would proceed in October.
Photos released show that the Chairman boarded the destroyer under the reception of Navy Commander Park Kwang-seop and directly inspected the sleeping quarters used by the marines.
North Korean media blurred sensitive information such as monitors in photos showing him inspecting combat information centers and the helm controlling the combat system to make the specifications unidentifiable.
North Korea unveiled the 5,000-ton new destroyer 'Choi Hyun-ho' on April 26.
Less than a month later, on May 21, it unveiled a second destroyer of the same class, but the ship ran aground during its launch ceremony, causing embarrassment. On June 12, the overturned ship was repaired and renamed 'Kang Keun-ho', and a new launching ceremony was held.
On July 22, it also revealed plans to construct additional Choi Hyun-class new destroyers by October 10 of next year.
The timing of the Chairman's strong remarks coinciding with the start of the U.S.-South Korea joint exercises is seen as an intention to heighten the sense of enmity against the South and the U.S. and to seek internal solidarity, but there is also interpretation that it could be pressure on the U.S. and South Korea, who want dialogue, to halt the joint exercises during that time.