North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is confirmed to have ordered last year a bolstering of naval combat strength in the wake of a naval skirmish with South Korea.

This is according to a North Korean naval officer who said on a television program that Kim made the order while touring a naval fleet headquarters last November on the Yellow Sea.

The program was first aired April 25th in North Korea to mark the anniversary of the founding of the North Korean military.

The officer said "the dear leader gave us valuable teaching to modernize weapons, combat technology and equipment on warships." He said Kim boarded a vessel and stressed the importance of thorough training.

The North rebroadcast the program again on Wednesday amid heightened inter-Korean tension over the sinking of the South Korean “Cheonan” vessel.