Tourist Attraction on East Coast–New Scenic Beauty of Socialist Cultural Efflorescence Inaugural Ceremony of Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area Held with Splendour

 

Pyongyang, June 26 (KCNA) -- Thanks to the firm revolutionary will of the Workers’ Party of Korea to bring about shining efflorescence of socialist civilization on our land in our own way and with our own resources, entities for a new life and for new wellbeing are being created one after another in different parts of the country. In these days of rejuvenation, a modern coastal resort has been developed on the Kalma peninsula, famous for its beautiful coastal scenery, greeting the auspicious moment of its inauguration.

In the Wonsan Kalma area hundreds of buildings of modern beauty and in various forms have been built in harmony with the scenery of the coastal area widely known for its outstanding landscape from olden times, achieving a perfect artistic compatibility and connectivity. The area is a coastal resort town of our own style without an equal in the world both in name and reality.

From among the hotels that can accommodate nearly 20 000 persons, the tourists from home and abroad can choose any one to stay according to their tastes. The tourist area has sea-bathing service facilities and various sports, amusement, commercial and public catering facilities fully equipped with all the necessary conditions, as well as facilities for other cultural and leisure activities, which can offer all year round the real taste of the east coast, presenting a wonderful picture of a 4km-long stretch of beach to be crowded with the people every year.

The transformation of the Wonsan Kalma area, a great auspicious event of the whole country, is a brilliant fruition of the profound thinking and inexhaustible efforts of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, who unfolded a grand blueprint for building a world-class cultural resort and saw to it that all the architectural structures were perfectly built staking the dignity of our state and the honour of our generation. It is also a prelude to a new era of our country’s tourism that was ushered in by the great spirit of service of the Workers’ Party of Korea which is steadily carving out new spheres of socialist civilization and important cultural progress that set up an epochal milestone in the building of the tourist industry of our own style.

The inaugural ceremony of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, a proud and inspiring creation that redoubles the patriotic enthusiasm of our people to lead the world, was held with splendour on June 24.

The venue of the inaugural ceremony was full of pride of the builders, who triumphantly built a wonderful tourist resort for the people by upholding the noble intention of the great Party Central Committee with a vigorous struggle and extraordinary mettle of creation, and the joy of the working people, who were to witness the birth of the proud coastal resort town of national value.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the inaugural ceremony.

When Kim Jong Un arrived, stormy cheers of “Hurrah!” resounded far and wide.

All the participants paid the highest tribute to Kim Jong Un, the great artist of creation and construction and the dear father, who is ushering in a new era of prosperity and development, filled with happy laughter of the people, with an ardent desire to provide his beloved people with a brighter and richer new life and civilization and with his brilliant wisdom and energetic leadership practice.

Present at the ceremony were members of the central leadership of the WPK including leading cadres of the Party and the government, officials of ministries and national agencies, military and civilian builders, officials and employees of the units in charge of construction and operation and officials, working people and youth and students in Kangwon Province and the city of Wonsan.

The ambassador and staff members of the Russian embassy in the DPRK were invited as special guests.

The national anthem of the DPRK was played.

Pak Thae Song, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, made an inaugural address.

The inauguration of the coastal resort, which has emerged on the beautiful Kalma peninsula as a masterpiece of Korean-style tourism, demonstrating the tremendous might and rapid development of our state, is clear proof of the inexhaustible creative and vigorous executive abilities of socialist Korea which steadily writes new chapters of history of gigantic transformations and civilization, the premier said, extending warm militant tribute on behalf of the Central Committee of the WPK and the government of the DPRK to all the builders who have powerfully demonstrated the mettle of the country that proudly paves the way for an eye-opening development towards the future with such a precious asset.

He went on:

The Kalma peninsula, which can be called a coastal scenic spot with the best ecological environment, has assumed a new elegant and modern appearance–this is an epochal transformation that can be brought about only by our Party. It is a symbol of the great dignity and wellbeing of the people, created thanks to the people-first politics of our Party and the socialist system of our own style. Herein lies the true meaning of the coastal resort and charm peculiar to it and the noble height no other tourist attractions can reach.

He said that Kim Jong Un energetically led the work of making sure that the worthwhile grand construction project for providing our people with the most civilized resort in the world was dynamically pushed ahead with as a Party-wide and national drive.

The speaker noted that Kim Jong Un broadened the vision of the officials while giving meticulous guidance for thousands of designs, saw to it that all the structures in the resort were completed at the highest level and gave detailed solutions to all the problems including those of developing unique service methods and capabilities, stressing that his important instructions are a great encyclopedia that comprehensively encapsulates the orientation and ways for building a tourist industry in the new era, and he continued:

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the windy construction site several times a year, calling upon the builders to present a tourist attraction without an equal in the world to the people by building it into a cultural recreation ground. His ardent appeal redoubled the loyalty and patriotic faith of all the builders and powerfully encouraged them to a heroic labour struggle. Taking to heart their sacred mission of implementing the intention of the great Party Central Committee on the road of opening a new realm of tourist culture, the builders successfully set up grand miraculous edifices, creating an amazing construction speed, advanced building methods and exemplary experiences one after another.

The erection of the world-level coastal resort town, the most wonderful maritime park, by our own efforts is a source of valuable honour and worth of our generation holding in high esteem the great leader who is writing a new chapter of history of rejuvenation and prosperity in which men, mountains, rivers and times are undergoing change beyond recognition through a dynamic construction revolution. The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area will shine as a monument to the people-first idea and leadership of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

The eye-opening transformation in the Kalma peninsula made with an indomitable pioneering spirit and fortitude represents a new watershed for comprehensive rejuvenation to be surely reached by our state and people despite all difficulties.

The premier then called upon all the people to make a dynamic advance with higher ideals and dreams for the future of our state which will be turned into a paradise for the people along the road indicated by the Party Central Committee.

Kim Jong Un cut the inaugural tape.

Enthusiastic cheers were raised, fireworks of celebrations set off and balloons released, beautifully decorating the clear and blue sky over Myongsasimni.

Together with leading officials of the Party and the government, Kim Jong Un went round various places of the resort including the Myongsasimni Water Park, Kalma Moranbong Hotel and Myongsasimni Hotel.

Enjoying a bird’s-eye view of the coastal tourist town presenting a wonderful scene, he said with great satisfaction that what he most wanted to do for the people and to which the Party devoted a great deal of effort for a long time with cherished desire were translated into a brilliant reality, and that our inexhaustible pioneering spirit was fully demonstrated once again through the gigantic construction project.

Noting that all the structures in the Wonsan Kalma area are monumental edifices that comprehensively represent the mature phase of our architecture which has made a rapid leap forward with each passing year, he expressed his deep emotion over the building of an eye-opening entity to be recorded as one of the greatest successes for this year of rounding off the implementation of the decisions of the Eighth Congress of the WPK.

Saying that the coastal resort should play a leading role in establishing our tourist culture, he stressed the need for all the units in charge of its operation to provide all tourists to the scenic spot on the east coast with the highest level of convenience and leisure space in order to help them spend pleasant and satisfactory days.

Noting that in our country with diverse and rich tourism resources and political stability and institutional durability peculiar to it, its tourist industry is of great prospective significance as a motive power promoting the efflorescence and development of the cultural field and the advancement of the relevant regions and contributing to the overall economic growth of the state, he indicated an important orientation for expanding and developing our style of tourism on a large scale.

He said that development of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area is the proud first step on the road of implementing the policy of the Party and the government on the development of cultural tourism and the Ninth Congress of the WPK will confirm an important plan for developing large promising tourist resorts of various types in different regions in the shortest time possible on the basis of the successes and experiences gained in the development of the Kalma peninsula.

An art performance was given to celebrate the inauguration of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area.

The night of celebration was full of jubilation with famous songs portraying the stirring spirit of the prosperous times, in which every dream and ideal are being translated into a brilliant reality along with the efflorescing socialist civilization, the fervent hope for the future and the burning patriotic enthusiasm, as well as with gorgeous fireworks.

Kim Jong Un expressed belief that the wave of happiness to be raised in the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area will shine its attractive name as a world-level tourist resort, heralding the future of paradises to be built in different parts of the country.

The eye-opening landscape of civilization and sea change on the beautiful beach on the east coast, unveiled thanks to the most people-oriented view of the WPK on the development of the state, will shine long as a cultural treasure that brings the people’s laughter into full bloom year after year, demonstrating the inexhaustible development potential and valiant pioneering spirit peculiar to our state that is confidently ushering in a promising new era of prosperity.

The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area will start service for the domestic tourists on July 1. 

Press Release for Enlarged Meeting of Twelfth Plenary Meeting of Eighth Central Committee of WPK

 Pyongyang, June 24 (KCNA) -- The Enlarged Meeting of the Twelfth Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea was held from June 21 to 23, 2025.

The plenary meeting was convened to conduct an interim review of the implementation of the major Party and state policies for this year, which were assigned by the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK, to reconfirm the central tasks of the work and the orientation of the struggle for the second half of the year and to discuss and decide on the issues arising in the course of expanding and deepening the short-, intermediate- and long-term plans for economic construction.

Present there were members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau, members and alternate members of the Political Bureau and members and alternate members of the Central Committee of the WPK.

Present there as observers were officials of the departments of the Party Central Committee, leading officials of ministries, national agencies and provincial-level guidance bodies, chief secretaries of city and county Party committees, leading Party and administrative officials of major industrial establishments and major commanding officers of the Korean People’s Army.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, presided over the plenary meeting.

The meeting heard a report on the successes made in all fields of socialist construction, including politics, the economy, culture, science, education and national defence in response to the call of the Party Central Committee for glorifying the year 2025 as an epochal year of fulfilling the grand revolutionary programme set forth at the Eighth Party Congress and a year of eye-opening turn in bringing about an upward trend towards a new stage of development and on the work of the Party organizations at all levels in the period of the first half of the year.

The Party Central Committee made a very affirmative appreciation of the remarkable results achieved in the struggle to implement the major Party and state policies in the first half of the year and the spirit of vigorous advance definitely prevailing in overall socialist construction.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made an important speech at the meeting.

The meeting examined and approved strategic adjustment of a series of the Party and state policy tasks and proposals for their timely implementation on the principle of positively promoting successes and experiences and steadily drawing lessons and solutions in keeping with the features of the times, in which a gigantic struggle unprecedented in terms of the width and depth of the state development and the immensity of its goal is being waged, and with the changing objective situations.

A decision on convening the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which would be another watershed in the course of the development of our Party and revolution, received unanimous approval, and practical measures were taken for the successful opening of the historic Party Congress.

The plenary meeting discussed and decided on the tasks for radically accelerating the revitalization and modernization of major industrial sectors of the national economy standing in the vanguard of further strengthening the independent character and development potential of our national economy and guaranteeing the sustainable and stable comprehensive rejuvenation and growth.

It discussed the tasks essential for improving the fighting efficiency and activeness of the basic Party organizations, which occupy an important position in the organizational structure and system of the Party and for putting the work for the inner-Party structure on a more streamlined and efficient basis as required by the line of Party building in the new era, and adopted a relevant decision.

It dealt with the organizational matter.

The sector-specific study and consultative meetings were held for two days under the guidance of members of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee to take measures for correctly carrying out the plans for the second half of the year on the basis of the main spirit of the plenary meeting for thoroughly attaining the goals set for this year by making more courageous, effective and intensive efforts in the most responsible course, in which the work for significantly celebrating the 80th anniversary of national liberation and the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK coincides with the campaign to greet the Ninth Congress of the WPK as a congress of victors, a glorious congress, and thus bringing about epochal achievements to be specially recorded in the history of the Party and the country.

The draft decisions, amended and supplemented on the basis of the constructive and dynamic opinions presented at the consultative meetings, were discussed at the 25th meeting of the Political Bureau of the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK.

The finally confirmed decisions were submitted to the plenary meeting and adopted with the unanimous approval of members of the Party Central Committee.

Through the enlarged meeting of its Twelfth Plenary Meeting, the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK discussed and decided on practical measures for expanding the ideal and solid cornerstone for the comprehensive prosperity of Korean-style socialism as soon as possible, firmly maintaining the rising trend of the development of the state which was achieved with the revolutionary spirit of self-sustenance and indomitable courage of advance, and thus successfully went through an important process essential for accelerating the advance towards a new victory.

The important speech made by Kim Jong Un at the June 2025 Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the WPK and the decisions adopted at the meeting will be published as inner-Party documents and distributed to the Party organizations at all levels.

Spokesperson for Foreign Ministry of DPRK Strongly Denounces U.S. Military Attack on Iran

 Pyongyang, June 23 (KCNA) -- A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA on June 23 as regards the U.S. military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities:

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the U.S. which severely violated the UN Charter with respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs as the basic principle and norms of other international laws and violently trampled down the territorial integrity and security interests of a sovereign state.

Opposing the threat and exercise of the force blocking the territorial integrity and political independence of a country in international relations is the purpose, principle and fundamental spirit of the UN Charter reflecting the general will of the international community.

The present situation of the Middle East, which is wholly shaking the basis of international peace and security, is an inevitable product brought by the reckless valor of Israel which has promoted its unilateral interests through ceaseless war moves and territorial expansion and by the Western-style free order that has tolerated and encouraged it.

Israel’s and the U.S. acts of further aggravating the tension in the Middle East and causing serious negative consequences to the global security structure by dint of physical strength under the pretext of the so-called "peacekeeping" and "threat removal" are amplifying serious concerns.

The just international community should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the U.S. and Israel's confrontational acts.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Meets Secretary of Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu

 

Pyongyang, June 18 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met on June 17 Comrade Sergei Shoigu who visited the DPRK again, leading a delegation of the Security Council of the Russian Federation upon special authorization of Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un gladly greeted Comrade Sergei Shoigu who visited Pyongyang at a significant time marking the first anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation and had a warm talk with him.

Shoigu courteously conveyed the oral letter of Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un.

Comrade Kim Jong Un expressed his deep thanks for it and conveyed his comradely greetings to the esteemed Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

The talk appreciated again the important meaning of the conclusion of the treaty on comprehensive strategic relationship between the DPRK and Russia and discussed the items of immediate cooperation and long-term plans arising in implementing the important matters agreed by the heads of states of the two countries through the exchanges of personal letters for several weeks.

It also discussed and approved some ideas and plans for conveying long the heroic feats displayed by soldiers of units of the Korean People's Army in the operations for liberating the Kursk area.

Proceeding from a correct understanding of the current situation in the special military operations and Kursk Region, Kim Jong Un confirmed the contents of the DPRK's cooperation within the range of the treaty between the two countries, accepted the relevant plans and discussed in detail the necessary cooperation plans.

The talk widely exchanged the views and opinions of the leaderships of the two countries on the issues of mutual concern including the complicated international and regional situation and reached a consensus of view.

Kim Jong Un expressed again the steadfast option and will of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to invariably and unconditionally support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its state sovereignty, territorial integrity and international justice against the imperialist moves of hegemony and to honestly implement the articles of the treaty between the DPRK and Russia in the future, too.

Comrade Kim Jong Un conveyed the noble respect and fraternal greetings of the Korean people to the esteemed Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and all the Russian people on the occasion of the first anniversary of the conclusion of the treaty on the comprehensive strategic relations between the DPRK and Russia, hoping that greater victory, prosperity and happiness will be always in store in the future of the powerful Russia.

The talk consistently proceeded in a congenial atmosphere of friendship and trust.

 

 

 

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Gives Field Guidance at Major Munitions Industry Enterprise

 

Pyongyang, June 14 (KCNA) --Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, gave field guidance at a major munitions industry enterprise on June 13.

Also visiting the enterprise were Jo Yong Won, Kim Tok Hun, Ri Hi Yong, O Su Yong, Kim Jong Sik and other leading officials of the WPK Central Committee, No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, Choe Son Hui, foreign minister, Ko Pyong Hyon, chairman of the Second Economy Commission, Kim Yong Hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences, commanding officers of the large combined units of the Korean People’s Army and chief secretaries of the provincial committees of the WPK.

Making the rounds of various production sites of the enterprise, including press, spinning and assembly workshops, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un learned in detail about shell production, capacity expansion and modernization projects in the first half of 2025.

He expressed great satisfaction over the high enthusiasm for patriotic deeds and struggle displayed by the workers at the enterprise, who are kindling the fierce flames of innovation by turning out as one in the drive to greet the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK and the Ninth Congress of the WPK with a proud success of increased military hardware production.

He praised the successes in the development of the enterprise, which has modernized itself on a high level by making a reasonable redistribution of the overall production lines in hearty response to the plan of the Party Central Committee on rapidly developing our defence industry into a world-class, advanced industry. He underscored the need to set development-oriented goals in order to meet the long-term demands of the developing national defence capabilities, and set forth new tasks to be carried out by the enterprise.

In order to satisfy all the requirements of the national defence strategy and increase the output of new-type powerful shells to meet the requirements of modern warfare, it is necessary to further expand and reinforce the production capacity, arrange the production lines more reasonably and steadily raise the level of putting production on an unmanned footing, he said and advanced the tasks to this end.

The visitors accompanying him appreciated the cultured way of living of the workers in the munitions industry while looking round the ideological education bases in the educational district of the enterprise where landscaping has been realized on a high level, and a hall of culture, comprehensive neighbourhood-serving amenities, modern childcare facilities and cosy houses in the living district of the workers.

Vigorous Advance and Development of Revolution in Warship-building Industry and Modernization of Naval Forces in New Era Ceremony of Launching Destroyer of KPA Navy Takes Place with Splendour

 

Pyongyang, June 13 (KCNA) -- The unshakable faith and steadfast revolutionary will of the Workers' Party of Korea to firmly defend the lasting growth and prosperity of our great state with its tremendous, matchless and absolute strength are ushering in a shining heyday of the naval forces of the DPRK along with the steady birth of the powerful Juche-type military hardware.

Another multi-mission destroyer, which will firmly guarantee the maritime sovereignty and national interests of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has greeted the historic moment of recording its sacred name as a defender in the history, demonstrating the invariable will to build a powerful army of our Party aspiring after only advance without tolerating frustration and stagnation under any unfavourable conditions.

A continuous possession of new-type destroyers, which has finally been achieved by the stubborn efforts and unyielding fighting spirit on the sacred journey for the strengthening and development of the Juche-oriented naval forces, serves as a demonstration of the power of indomitable spirit of the workers in the field of the warship-building industry and the great potential power of our state and, at the same time, a matchless step forward in implementing the maritime strategy of the Party Central Committee to reliably defend the security of the country and the world peace.

A ceremony of launching the destroyer of the Navy of the Korean People's Army took place at the Rajin Shipyard on June 12.

Present at the ceremony were senior Party, government and military officials, workers, scientists, technicians and officials in the field of the warship-building industry, officers and men of the KPA Navy, the commanding officers and seamen of the destroyer, teaching staff and students of Kim Jong Suk Naval University, commanding officers of the services and corps-level units of the KPA and leading officials of ministries and national agencies.

The venue of the ceremony, manifesting the lofty ideal and triumphant spirit of Juche Korea progressing to be an advanced maritime power, was full of absolute trust in Comrade Kim Jong Un, who is steadfastly accelerating the historic advance of the revolution in the warship-building industry in the new era, and great pride in and self-respect for the ever-growing inexhaustible strength of our state.

The guard of honour of the KPA Navy solemnly lined up, waiting for the moment of glory.

When the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un arrived at the venue of the ceremony where the latest multi-mission destroyer was moored majestically, all the participants broke into enthusiastic cheers as they accorded the greatest glory and respect to the peerless patriot and ever-victorious brilliant commander who is forcing his way along the untrodden path and thorny path of pioneering for the country's prosperity and the peace of all generations to come with his great strenuous efforts and iron will in order to usher in a great heyday in the building of a maritime power when the cherished desire of the nation with a history spanning 5 000 years would be fulfilled admirably.

There was a ceremony of greeting Kim Jong Un.

He reviewed the colours of honour of the KPA Navy and its guard of honour.

Major commanding officers of the Navy courteously greeted him with boundless reverence for him.

There was a march-past of the guard of honour of the KPA Navy.

Kim Jong Un took the platform followed by senior officials of the Party and government, the commander and other commanding officers of the Navy, commanding officers of the services and corps-level units of the KPA, chief secretaries of the provincial committees of the WPK, officials in the field of munitions industry, and officials and meritorious persons in the field of warship-building.

The national anthem of the DPRK was solemnly played.

Jo Chun Ryong, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, delivered a commemorative address.

Expressing his profound emotion about the fact that new-type destroyer No. 2, which will join the front rank of the DPRK's sea defence capabilities thanks to the high revolutionary enthusiasm and strenuous efforts of the workers in the field of the warship-building industry, is to be launched in the blue waters of the East Sea at last and it has become possible to report the result to the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee, the speaker said that this constitutes a proud and auspicious event which makes it possible to feel that the era, in which the ideal and goal of the DPRK and its growing national power reach the ocean, is really coming closer like the dignified entity of the warship.

Referring to the fact that the new-type multi-mission destroyers, as a leading restraining force for sea defence, are equipped with comprehensive combat capability which was developed and enhanced in our own way to freely move in and out of the East Sea and the Pacific like their yard and make an annihilating, retaliatory strike against the hostile forces, who try to challenge the sovereignty of our state and encroach upon its right to peace and prosperity, wherever they are—coastal waters, ocean or land, he affirmed that today's launching ceremony will demonstrate that the new era of the maritime power aspired by our Party, state and people is an undeniable reality.

Referring to the reality in which an eye-opening event of building two large multi-mission destroyers took place in less than one year and a half under the energetic leadership of Kim Jong Un, who is leading in the van the all-round, rapid and victorious advance of the revolution in national defence industry in the new era, he stressed that the honour of receiving the outstanding and seasoned guidance of the Party Central Committee, which is producing the transformative results of the revolutionary industry one after another to usher in a heyday in the buildup of the self-defensive capabilities, is the inexhaustible strength for creation and miracles being performed in the whole defence industry front, not just the warship-building industry field.

The DPRK's warship-building industry will achieve more remarkable successes as it is led by the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and has the precious experience and lessons gained in the unyielding struggle, the speaker said, expressing his determination to give fuller play to the staunch spirit of faithfully supporting the ideas and leadership of the great Party Central Committee and to develop greater strength for creation and thereby devote all efforts to the sacred struggle for proudly demonstrating the DPRK, our dignified and powerful country, before the world.

At the ceremony, No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, announced an order of the Central Military Commission of the WPK on the grading regulations and naming of the destroyer which was signed by Kim Jong Un and conveyed a certificate of the warship grading and naming to the commander of the East Sea Fleet of the KPA Navy.

According to the order of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, the newly-built destroyer was graded as the Choe Hyon class and named Kang Kon.

Kim Jong Un conferred the ensign of the destroyer Kang Kon on the commanding officers of the East Sea Fleet of the KPA Navy.

Jo Chun Ryong, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, cut the rope in token of the ceremony of launching the destroyer.

At that moment, a veil over the warship name was removed with the warship whistle and fireworks were set off and balloons released to decorate the sky beautifully.

Kim Jong Un mounted the destroyer.

The warship, which greeted the moment of honour of undergoing the first inspection by the Supreme Commander, was filled with militant enthusiasm.

After receiving the salute of the captain, Kim Jong Un gave the seamen warm encouragement, going round the stem and quarter deck of the warship.

The memorial relief image of anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter Kang Kon, the first chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, was unveiled on the destroyer.

Kim Jong Un placed a flower before the relief image of Kang Kon, the loyalist who rendered distinguished services for army building, and paid high tribute to him, praying that the youthfulness which the prominent military strategist representing the heroism of the KPA and genuine communist revolutionary devoted to the cause of building a state and founding an army and the strong, brave stamina and precious spirit he demonstrated during the southward advance, would be a propelling power pushing the warship and permanent nutrition of a-match-for-a-hundred combat spirit to encourage the seamen of new generation to record only victorious furrow and inspire the eternal prosperity of the Navy of the DPRK.

He met and encouraged the scientists, technicians and workers in the field of warship-building industry who contributed to the building of the destroyer and its restoration to the original state.

Shaking the hands of each of meritorious persons, Kim Jong Un expressed his heartfelt thanks to the patriotic loyalty and labour feats of them who made a contribution to perfectly implementing the order of the Central Military Commission of the Party by displaying their excellent professional qualifications and abilities with one mind in building a warship of new generation and restoring it.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un delivered a commemorative speech.

He said that the grand launching ceremony of destroyer No. 2 shows that the new era of building a fleet, which has raised the anchor of sacred pioneering, is making steady progress and our huge warship-building plans aimed at building the world-level naval capability are being pushed most correctly and quickly. And he expressed his deep thanks to the heroic workers in the field of the warship-building industry, including those of Chongjin and Rajin shipyards, and scientists, technicians and officials of the relevant sector who brought about a very important event which makes people actually feel a change showing the extremely rapid development of our warship-building industry.

There was an absurd twist which impaired the dignity and prestige of the country in a moment due to the sheer irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism, but no obstacle could delay the important course of bolstering up the naval combat power, he said, adding that this is another proof of the power of our mode of revolution and development as nourishment essential for the progress and leap of the warship-building industry.

Saying that we can step up the revolution in the warship-building industry in earnest at present as we have a strong will and have secured our own reliable forces and great technical power to guarantee it practically, he clarified the defence strategy of our Party and practical measures for the rapid strengthening of the naval forces, including the building of two destroyers, which are of or above the Choe Hyon class, and the deployment of them in operational waters every year from next year according to the constant view of our Navy that aggression can be prevented when it has the counterattack strength and capability.

Our cause of ushering in the golden era of the Navy has entered the full-scale stage, he said, expressing expectation and conviction that the workers in the field of the shipbuilding industry would build many large modern warships commensurate with the prestige of a military giant, which have been planned and decided by the Party, by giving fullest play to their boundless loyalty, patriotism, actual ability which cannot be ignored and capacity of tenacious execution, and thus continue to write a new history of the leap forward in the shipbuilding industry.

When he finished his speech, the harbour resounded with the stormy cheers of "Hurrah!" which all the participants full of great excitement and joy raised, being convinced of the bright future of Juche Korea dynamically advancing towards an advanced maritime power in the new century.

He highly praised the heroic feats of Jo Kum Hyok, head of Sheet Metal Processing Work team No. 1 of the Modernization Workshop under the Chongjin Shipyard who died at the worksite during the building of the destroyer, and met his wife and son to console them.

Kim Jong Un awarded the main commanding officers of the destroyer commemorative copper coins and had a photo taken with the commanding officers and sailors of the destroyer in front of the destroyer Kang Kon, which will be recorded forever in the army-building history.

He expressed his great trust that all the sailors of the destroyer would reliably carry forward the great spirit and indomitable bravery of the army-founding generation, who defended the sovereignty of our DPRK with honour, and thus glorify with brilliant feats the immortal exploits performed by the Navy for the country and its glorious furrow of defence.

All the commanding officers and sailors of the destroyer, who had the highest honour of being inspected and warmly blessed first by the head of state, expressed gratitude to Kim Jong Un, and pledged to fully demonstrate the heroic fighting spirit of the DPRK Navy and firmly defend the territorial waters of the country as they follow the sea route of victory indicated by the Party Central Committee.

He also met the workers, scientists, technicians, skilled workers and officials in the shipbuilding field, including those of Chongjin and Rajin shipyards, who contributed to the building of warships. And he had left a picture of love and trust, expressing expectation that they would launch invincible warships one after another in the sea of the country with more vigorous exertion and unyielding struggle so as to continue to dynamically write a great history of steadily increasing the great power of the Korean People's Army.

A performance was given to celebrate the launch of the destroyer.

The launching ceremony is a powerful demonstration of the prompt decision and will of the WPK to firmly defend national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests by rapidly developing the DPRK Navy into a powerful service in charge of part of the state nuclear deterrent, and a momentous occasion of injecting great vitality into the patriotic struggle of our people advancing dynamically towards the future of prosperity with high ambition and ideal.

The fame of the heroic people's navy getting greater day by day along with the glorious Kim Jong Un’s era will shine brilliantly as a symbol of the bravery and victory of indomitable socialist Korea, and the combat power extending to the vast ocean will demonstrate before the whole world its dignity and might as the treasured sword for defending justice and peace.

 

 

 

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Makes Speech at Ceremony of Launching Destroyer of Navy of Korean People's Army

 

Pyongyang, June 13 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a speech at a ceremony of launching a destroyer of the Navy of the Korean People's Army on June 12.

The full text of the speech is as follows:

Workers, scientists, technicians and officials in the shipbuilding industry and several other sectors, who are working with devotion on the major front of the warship-building industry with a far-reaching ambition of building a military giant,

Officers and men of the Navy of the Korean People's Army, who are boundlessly loyal to their mission of defending the territorial waters, and cadets of the naval university,

Family members of the employees of the shipyards and ship repair yards, who are devoting unknown efforts to the patriotic work of increasing our national strength,

Comrades,

The second new-type destroyer, convincing proof of the rapid transformation of our Navy, has assumed its sturdy appearance and greeted the day when it will get its name.

No one will doubt, I think, the rapid transformation of our Navy as they have witnessed the launching of another new-type destroyer less than two months after a similar event at the Nampho Shipyard.

As I made it clear at Nampho last April, they will deeply feel that a new era of modernization of our Navy has now arrived and is making an uninterrupted, steady headway.

Despite the persisting difficulties and obstacles, our gigantic warship building projects to build an advanced naval capability are being promoted most correctly and quickly.

Of course, we felt panic-stricken in front of the unexpected and ridiculous accident caused while launching this destroyer in Chongjin last month, but our crucial journey for increasing the combat capability of our Navy has never been delayed.

The challenge was created not by any failure or setback that we may face or experience unavoidably in the course of advance, but by sheer irresponsibility, carelessness and other factors. This was something that must never occur, but it simply did not mean a loss for us, I think.

We judged the accident not as a simple mistake but as a never-to-be-forgiven, serious criminal act that lowered the dignity and self-respect of our state in a moment, and investigated the root cause of the accident in a comprehensive way. In the course of this, we discovered to the last one the dangerous factors that had to be removed without fail, took relevant measures, and ensured that rapid restoration of the vessel was conducted at lightning speed, regarding it as an important political task.

As a result, the vessel was set on a safe posture and put to sea just over two weeks after the accident had taken place; and today its complete restoration has been rounded off as planned in the lead-up to a plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee.

I believe that the course of restoring the destroyer was an epochal occasion for making those responsible for the warship-building industry perform themselves a cool examination of their own ideological viewpoint and stand towards their professional jobs and acquire a responsible and immaculate way of work.

During the recent restoration work, the reliability and technical superiority of the destroyer's design was confirmed and development-oriented opinions were raised for building warships.

And a strict and due blow was delivered to incautiousness, irresponsibility, indolence, unscientific work attitude and empiricism latent in different sectors of our work.

Terrible man-made disasters caused by such irresponsibility and lack of scientific accuracy are now a commonplace in several other sectors and fields–railways, transport, power industry and construction sites to name a few.

This time we dealt a telling blow at the unscientific attitudes and viewpoints steeped in such irresponsibility and empiricism.

In a certain sense, I think that we have gone through a necessary process, and in view of all our future work, it was not a loss of time. I also think that this time we have drawn a great lesson.

The super-radical growth of our Navy's operations capability is now being proved by powerful entities, not by a prediction or possibility, and this has already become an unstoppable, powerful current of history.

Our steps in writing a new chapter in the history of the Navy are being accelerated by a great motive power, and more innovative and successive results prepared–this is the important meaning of today's launching and naming ceremony of the warship.

Our launching of Choe Hyon-class destroyer No. 2 that will perform multi-mission operations is another significant event, which fully demonstrates the indomitable will and strong executing abilities peculiar to our Party and people bravely clearing the untrodden path for realizing their ennobling ideals.

This warship will be handed over to the Navy in the middle of next year after its weapon systems have become integrated, and the assessment of its performance and capability for conducting operations, the test of its integrated operation and other several necessary procedures have been rounded off.

Availing myself of this important opportunity, I would like to express my warm thanks to the workers, technicians and officials of the Chongjin and Rajin shipyards and other units in the shipbuilding industry for powerfully demonstrating the invincible might of Korea and the mettle of its people in admirably building new-generation destroyer No. 2 of our Republic by responding through collaborative innovations to the miraculous achievement at the Nampho Shipyard. My thanks also go to the related sectors that are directing devoted efforts to the warship-building industry.

I would also like to offer my warm congratulations to the sailors of this destroyer, who I believe will write pages of distinguished services in the annals of our proud Navy together with the honourable name of Kang Kon.

Comrades,

As far as I know, there are only a few nations in the world that build such a warship by their own efforts.

Our warship-building industry has set sail for its development in real earnest, setting long-term objectives to be attained by the related industries, and this process is promoting their development.

As innovative warship-building processes have been established in the field of shipbuilding industry and an absolute standard, namely, new-generation destroyer, has been set, research and development projects for appropriate equipment are now underway to reach the targets set clearly in compliance with the strict requirements.

To take an example, the detection and electronic warfare sector has made a leap forward.

As it has to be consistent with the destroyer's tactical and technical specifications, the radar system research sector has accelerated its work to meet the strict standards and attain targets, with the result that it has achieved remarkable progress and opened a bright prospect for its development.

The success is not limited only to the on-board radar; it will serve as a solid springboard for a chain of technical revolution in the whole of our military hardware development and manufacturing sector.

Also, the development of a complex integrated on-board weapon management system has made it possible to apply AI technology under combat situations and define the development orientation of this sector.

Various kinds of surface and torpedo weapon systems are now under research and development and, importantly, a radical change is predicted in the engine dynamic system configuration of warships.

Today we are stepping up the revolution in the warship-building industry full steam not only because we are firm in our will but because we have secured our own industrial potentials and a high level of technical capabilities for guaranteeing the revolution in practice.

We ought to feel self-confident and proud in the rapid development of our warship-building industry.

The fact that the leading shipbuilding bases in the western and eastern coastal areas have built new-generation destroyers immaculately confirms that we have two powerful pillars capable of supporting the rapid development of our shipbuilding industry.

In the course of building new-type destroyers, our shipbuilding industry has recorded a new page of developing and building giant warships by its own efforts, set an eye-opening record in its speed and standards, and verified its inexhaustible potentials fully capable of propelling the revolution in the warship-building industry.

In the struggle to implement the Party's lines and policies, the internal forces that are capable of shouldering the present and future of the warship-building industry have increased remarkably and a large number of workers have grown up into hard-core elements. These are the most precious and powerful asset for achieving our cause of building an advanced maritime power which we must carry out without fail and accomplish with credit.

Through the recent course of building a new-type destroyer despite many difficulties, the workers of the Chongjin and Rajin shipyards have added lustre to their proud struggling tradition and mettle of building ships badly needed in defending the maritime sovereignty and developing the marine transport and fishing industry of the country, and grown up into reliable masters of the shipbuilding industry.

In particular, they produced a patriot who ended his ennobling life that will remain long in the affectionate memory of all people.

That was Jo Kum Hyok, leader of sheet-metal processing workteam No. 1 of the modernization workshop of the Chongjin Shipyard.

I was told that he put his heart and soul into the building of this destroyer though his health was in a poor condition, before breathing his last at his workplace.

I feel my heart rending to recall him, who passed away a few days before this ceremony of launching the destroyer associated with his painstaking efforts.

As I think that this warship is on the sea not merely by means of physical buoyancy but by dint of the pure loyalty and ardent patriotism of our working class, I am wrapped in solemn feelings.

His wife and son must be present here at this ceremony.

I extend deep sympathy to his wife and family members. Our motherland will highly appreciate his genuine life and remember it for ever.

The bereaved family members will be given a socialist patriotic sacrifice certificate, and the North Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the Party and the Party organization of the Chongjin Shipyard will take good care of them and ensure that his son grows up to be a genuine man who will devote himself for the sake of the Party and the country just as his father did.

Our Party will propose to award high official commendations to exemplary persons who have been tested and tempered spiritually and ideologically in the struggle for building the modern warships at the Nampho and Chongjin shipyards and to admit them to its organization.

Highly appreciating Jo Kum Hyok and other workers of the Chongjin Shipyard for the ennobling spiritual world and feats of labour they displayed and performed while working with devotion in the struggle for the country's prosperous future, I express deep thanks to all the workers in the shipbuilding sector for discharging their honourable mission and revolutionary duty in the effort to make ceaseless progress in modernizing our Navy.

Comrades,

The warship the Chongjin Shipyard has built this time is a super-powerful, state-of-the-art multi-mission destroyer, whose structure, performance and all other elements of the weapon systems are identical with those of the Choe Hyon launched earlier.

I am sure that these two warships built in 2025 will play a great role in improving the operations capability of our Navy.

As we have declared already, we will continue to build every year two destroyers of the same or higher class and commission them into the Navy.

Not long ago, the Party Central Military Commission officially endorsed a project of building two 5 000 ton-class destroyers additionally next year.

This portends an important and epochal change in the position and defence activities of our Republic's Navy.

The new-generation warships, which will be built and commissioned according to the already-confirmed warship-building plan and the general warship designs, will enlarge the operations scope and capabilities of our Navy at a strategic level.

The greater the combat capability of our naval forces becomes, the farther waters our Navy will reach away from our territorial waters; and the farther the operations sphere of our Navy extends on the oceans, the more inevitable our enemies' strategic retreat will be.

This means that the dignity of our Republic's honourable Navy, famed for its heroic fighting spirit, will be demonstrated not only in our territorial waters but in the vast expanse of oceans as well.

Comrades,

I would like to remind you, in a brief summary, that our state's overall security environment, namely on land, at sea, and in the air, is unpredictably perilous owing to the enemy's adventurous sabre-rattling that may trigger a nuclear war.

In particular, our neighbouring waters have turned into the most dangerous hotbed of nuclear war, where nuclear strike means, such as the US Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines and other warships, appear any time.

The military situation around our state has deteriorated, so much so that we can feel it not unusual but quite common to see the appearance of the US Navy's and Air Force's strategic nuclear means.

No waters adjacent to any other country is as dangerous as ours, where one of the belligerents deploys a large number of warships and persists with its open nuclear war drills against the other.

Recently, the armies of the United States and its vassal states grow undisguised in their provocative ambitions, and their threats to our security have clearly gone well beyond the danger limit.

Given the prevailing situation, our decision is definite and consistent.

In dealing with our aggressive rival we will respond to each one of its manoeuvres immediately and with equal strength, and we will take overwhelming military actions each time.

Possessing operations capability on the oceans and exercising naval power there is our indispensable option for defending our national sovereignty and security interests.

It is not long before the enemy forces themselves will experience how offending and unpleasant it is to have to watch their rival's warships cruising on the fringes of their territorial waters.

Certainly, soon afterwards, our warships' routes to the enemy's naval ports, outposts of their invasion, in the Pacific will be opened, and the names of our enemy states' major ports and sea waters will be recorded in the logbooks of our East Sea and West Sea fleets.

This accords with the freedom of navigation that is guaranteed for our state.

We will exercise our rights fairly and squarely.

Our Navy's creed should be that it can prevent invasion only when it is capable of counter-attacking and builds up such a capability.

We have such a capability.

And we will surely build it up.

We should accelerate the development of our Navy's fighting capability in a more comprehensive way so that the enemy will not dare attempt to initiate any aggressive action in our neighbouring waters.

Comrades,

Our cause of opening up a golden age for the Navy has entered a full-scale stage, but this is no reason for us to rest on our laurels.

The workers, scientists and technicians in the shipbuilding industry, standing in the vanguard of our grandiose struggle to develop the Juche-oriented naval forces, should give full play to their unfailing loyalty, patriotism, remarkable qualifications and unflinching executing abilities, thus creditably building powerful warships as planned and decided upon by our Party.

My future plan is to open up a new booming stage for the shipbuilding industry with the Chongjin Shipyard as the backbone and build on an extensive scale modern large warships befitting the prestige of a military power.

It is high time for us to advance towards the goal of attaining the global standards in our shipbuilding industry, which will represent the future of a maritime country.

As a shipbuilding giant of the country, the Chongjin Shipyard should boldly upgrade its technical and production processes and supplement what is lacking, so as to complete its features as a modern industrial unit; then it should build more advanced warships than this Choe Hyon-class destroyer.

This may seem to be a challenging task, but only by carrying it out can the shipyard fulfil its role, which has been rated primary, in helping the country take on the true appearance of a maritime power.

The Party and the state should put an emphasis on ensuring that, in addition to the Chongjin Shipyard, this Rajin Shipyard and all the other shipbuilding bases, which have their due role to play in effecting the revolution in the warship-building industry, push ahead, according to schedule, with their long-term projects and immediate work plans. This will give renewed impetus to the comprehensive upgrading of our shipbuilding industry that is definitely advancing on a new track of development.

Comrades,

We should keep in mind that every warship we are building and their launching has a direct bearing not only on our maritime sovereignty but also on the sacred dignity and prestige of our state.

I trust the workers in the warship-building sector.

I hope that the workers, technicians and officials of this shipyard, united with one mind and will behind the Party Central Committee, will make a substantial contribution to ushering in an era of great rejuvenation for our shipbuilding industry.

Comrades,

Our beloved East Sea is welcoming its trustworthy defender.

The Kang Kon will set out on a voyage, which is linked to our people's peace and wellbeing.

Warships of a new generation are to be launched one after another in the coming years, and they will form the backbone of our maritime defence forces. They will demonstrate the honour and dignity of our state, opening up a route to peace and prosperity for our country and people advancing towards the goal of comprehensive rejuvenation.

Courageous sailors of the Kang Kon, who are beginning an honourable service aboard this matchless warship named after the anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter,

The Kang Kon, along with the Choe Hyon, will win fame as an invincible warship defending the purity and beauty of our seas with credit.

I believe you will brave any raging storm and follow the route to victory, mindful of the patriotic desires of Kang Kon who, in the prime of his life, performed brilliant exploits in the battlefields for achieving national liberation and defending the country.

Officials and workers in the shipbuilding sector and all the workers at the Chongjin and Rajin shipyards,

Let us march vigorously towards the goal of building an advanced maritime power in the new century, while carrying out the historic tasks facing us without fail.

Long live our heroic working class!

Long live the brave Navy of Korea!

Long live the Democratic People's Republic of Korea!