Mr. Kim inspected a warship factory, South Korea said North Korea had just launched a missile.

North Korean news agency KNCA said today, February 2, that leader Kim Jong-un inspected warships at the Nampho shipyard, about 65 km southwest of the capital Pyongyang.

According to KCNA, Mr Kim was briefed on the many warships being built as well as preparations for the "giant plan" proposed by the ruling Workers' Party.

Accompanying Mr. Kim on the inspection trip were senior officials of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party and Mr. Kim Myong-sik, Commander of the Korean Navy.

Mr. Kim during his inspection tour of Nampho shipyard.

Mr Kim's trip is part of a new effort to bolster his forces as Pyongyang steps up its defences against external threats.

According to the North Korean leader, strengthening the navy is the most important issue in protecting the country's maritime sovereignty and stepping up preparations for "war".

Accompanying Mr Kim were top officials of the Workers' Party of Korea and the country's Navy Commander.

In recent weeks, Mr Kim has declared South Korea to be North Korea's "main enemy", warning of the risk of war if its territory is violated "even by 0.001 mm".

Mr. Kim also recently praised the test-launch of a new strategic cruise missile from a submarine, calling it a crucial moment in the development of North Korea's naval power.

Nuclear-powered submarines are on Mr Kim's list of strategic weapons priorities for 2021, along with hypersonic warheads, spy satellites and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Images from Mr. Kim's inspection tour

In the latest development, Seoul said on February 2 that Pyongyang launched multiple cruise missiles off its west coast at around 11 a.m. this morning, AFP reported.

South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho accused Pyongyang of "staging provocations" aimed at turning the Korean peninsula into a region similar to the Middle East, where the risk of military conflict is constant.

The Korea Times quoted this official as saying that North Korea's aim is to sow division in South Korea before the general election in April.

Pyongyang has not commented on the information.

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