North Korea is planning to build a 10,000-ton destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons. State media announced these plans ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit, a report by Reuters stated. On Thursday, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw naval tests related to these initiatives.

He ordered the navy to deploy the destroyer Kang Gon and another 5,000-ton warship, the Choe Hyon, as soon as possible. However, the newspaper did not provide further details. Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in South Korea, noted that this is the first time North Korea has announced plans to build a 10,000-ton destroyer.

Kim appears keen to demonstrate his military capabilities prior to President Xi Jinping’s visit. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated that Pyongyang must enhance its naval capabilities to avert a nuclear war; he also called for strengthening military capabilities across land, sea, and air.