North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un visited major shipyards tasked with constructing warships to inspect a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, remarking that his country's maritime defense capabilities would be "fully" projected, the KCNA reported.

Kim stated that North Korea "would never remain an idle onlooker to the naval and underwater military activities of the enemies seriously threatening the sovereignty and interests of [North Korea] by constantly deploying large numbers of strategic assets," adding that the sea defense capabilities of his country "which is in a responsible and key position for defending peace in the Korean Peninsula and the region, will be fully displayed in any necessary waters without limitation."

Earlier this week, Kim threatened that the United States and South Korea would pay a "horrible price" in response to a joint military exercise by the two countries.