It is the worst incident involving the armed forces in recent years.

Submarine number 841 – named Hero Kim Kun Ok after a North Korean historical figure – will perform its combat mission as 'one of core underwater offensive means of the naval force' of North Korea, Kim says.

The misconduct finding and the vacating of previous felony convictions mark a rare and significant setback for the Justice Department.

Kim says North Korea requires its Navy to maintain war readiness, a 'constant combat alertness,' and called for 'radically' modernising its weapons and equipment.

Abdul Rahman Ayob says the first ship is expected to be handed over at the end of 2026.

China officially ended its three days of exercises around Taiwan where it practiced precision strikes and blockading the island.

The announcement comes as China's military simulates precision strikes against Taiwan in military drills around the island amid growing tensions between China and the US in the region.

Environmentalists attacked the decision, saying the aircraft carrier contains tonnes of asbestos, heavy metals and other toxic materials that could leach into the water and pollute the marine food chain.

Navy chief Admiral Abdul Rahman Ayob says the decision was made some time ago, when the government decided to continue with the littoral combat ship project.

Japan monitored the operations after the Chinese naval group sailed between the main Okinawa island and Miyakojima island into the Western Pacific from the East China Sea, reports say.

The HTMS Sukhothai warship, a US-made corvette in use since 1987, capsized in the Gulf of Thailand after being knocked over by 4 metre waves and strong winds.

The Sukhothai, a US-built corvette in use since 1987, was hit by strong waves, forcing it to tilt to one side before becoming flooded with seawater, navy spokesperson Admiral Pogkrong Monthardpalin says.