Kim Jong Un showcases new warship ahead of Xi Jinping's visit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected sea trials of the 5,000‑ton destroyer Kang Kon, a vessel that was repaired after a botched launch in May. State media reported that Kim vowed to "rapidly develop" a nuclear‑armed navy, describing the force as capable of delivering a "deadly blow at the enemy any moment under the water or on the water." The warship is part of a five‑year defence plan that also calls for larger 10,000‑ton‑class destroyers and unspecified "underwater secret weapons." Kim was accompanied by his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae, who analysts say may be being groomed as a successor. The ship’s launch failure, which Kim labeled "criminal," was followed by a June relaunch, though experts question whether it is fully operational. The announcement came a day after North Korean and Chinese state media confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on June 8‑9, signalling deepening ties between the two countries. The visit follows a recent unveiling of a new uranium‑enrichment facility in North Korea, which Kim said would expand the country's nuclear forces "at an exponential rate."