The KCNA state news agency reported on Friday that the chairman of the State Affairs Committee of the DPRK made the remarks while visiting the Nampho shipyard on the west coast of the country.

Strengthening naval power is a key issue in safeguarding the nation’s maritime sovereignty and speeding up preparations for a possible war, he said.

Kim said this entails taking ‘a new leap’ and modernizing the shipbuilding industry.

In this regard, he stressed the importance of the Nampho shipyard, which has a glorious tradition.

KCNA noted that work has been done there on the construction of a barge to launch ballistic missiles from submarines, although the main facility for such purposes is located in the city of Sinpo, on the east coast.

jg/abo/rgh/asg