North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has called for the strengthening of the country’s naval forces to “step up war preparations” and protect maritime sovereignty, according to Yonhap. The statement was made as North Korea escalates tensions on the Korean Peninsula since the beginning of this year. It is noted that recently, North Korea conducted three rounds of launches of cruise missiles within a week, including test trials of a new strategic cruise missile launched from a submarine. During a visit to the Nampho shipyard on the country’s west coast, Kim Jong-un stated that strengthening the Nav…