SEOUL, South Korea —
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected his new destroyer for two consecutive days ahead of its commissioning and observed a test of cruise missiles fired from the warship, vowing to accelerate the nuclear armament of his navy, state media reported Thursday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim visited the western shipyard of Nampo on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he also inspected the construction of a third destroyer of the same class as his 5,000-ton warship, the *Choe Hyon*, which was first unveiled in April 2025.
Kim has praised the development of the *Choe Hyon* as a significant step toward expanding the operational range and preemptive strike capabilities of North Korea’s nuclear-armed military. State media reported that the ship is designed to carry various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-naval weapons, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
South Korean military officials and analysts suggest that the *Choe Hyon* was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties, though some have expressed skepticism regarding whether the ship is fully ready for active service.
North Korea had unveiled a second destroyer of the same class in May last year; however, it was damaged during a failed launching ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin. The incident triggered a furious response from Kim, who called the failure “criminal.” While North Korea claims the new destroyer, named *Kang Kon*, was relaunched in June after repairs, outside experts question if the ship is fully operational.
After observing sea trials of the *Choe Hyon* on Tuesday, Kim declared that the ship met operational requirements and called it a symbol of North Korea’s expanding naval capabilities. He also called for the construction of two warships each year over the next five years, of the same or higher class than the *Choe Hyon*.
Kim returned on Wednesday to observe a test launch of cruise missiles from the *Choe Hyon*. Photos published by state media showed him watching from shore as several projectiles were launched from the vessel amidst plumes of white smoke, describing the weapons as “strategic,” a term typically used for nuclear-capable systems.
After years focused on ballistic missile development, Kim has shifted his attention toward enhancing naval capabilities, including the ongoing construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. KCNA reported that the third destroyer under construction at the Nampo shipyard is expected to be completed by the ruling Workers’ Party’s founding anniversary in October.
Naval capabilities were a key topic when Kim outlined his five-year military goals at last month’s Workers’ Party congress, which included plans for intercontinental ballistic missiles that can be launched from underwater platforms.
Kim claimed on Tuesday that efforts to arm the navy with nuclear weapons are “making satisfactory” progress, declaring that these advancements will “constitute a radical change in defending our maritime sovereignty, something that we have not achieved for half a century.” KCNA did not provide further details on this statement.
Some analysts believe North Korea may be preparing to formally declare a maritime boundary that could encroach on waters controlled by rival South Korea. As tensions escalate between the two Koreas, Kim has repeatedly rejected the Northern Limit Line—a maritime boundary drawn by the U.S.-led U.N. Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. This poorly defined western sea boundary has been the site of several deadly naval clashes in recent years.
At the party congress, Kim reaffirmed plans to expand North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, which already includes various weapons systems posing threats to the United States and U.S. allies in Asia. He also maintained a hard-line stance toward rival South Korea but left the door open for dialogue with the Trump administration, reiterating Pyongyang’s demand that Washington abandon its insistence on denuclearization as a precondition for resuming long-stalled talks.
https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/north-korean-leader-kim-inspects-new-warship-claims-130772971
