North Korea's state media report the country's leader Kim Jong Un has been briefed on the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine.



The state-run Korean Central Television reported on Saturday that Kim inspected a shipyard with senior navy officials. It did not mention when the visit took place nor where the shipyard is.



Afterwards, Kim reportedly said the development of the country's navy into "an elite and nuclear-armed force" is an important part of building up the country's national defense.



He also said 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.



Kim was apparently referring to recent port calls made by a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and earlier by a US nuclear-powered submarine in South Korea.



Acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine was one of the goals put forth in the country's five-year national defense plan unveiled in January 2021.



With this year being the final year of the plan, Kim is apparently in a hurry to develop a nuclear submarine.