North Korean leader observes strategic weapons tests aboard new naval destroyer

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile and other weapons aboard the new 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon, state media said, as Pyongyang continued its push to build a nuclear-armed navy.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Friday's event included test firings of a strategic cruise missile, the destroyer's main gun and automatic cannons, as well as trials of its electronic warfare systems and assessments of its target-detection and information-processing capabilities.

After observing the tests from shore, Kim ordered officials to complete the destroyer's trials and place the vessel in active duty within two months, the state news agency said.

Naval expansion

The tests came after North Korea in late June commissioned its first 5,000-tonne destroyer, the Choe Hyon, a milestone Kim marked with a lavish ceremony where he declared that the nuclear armament of his navy was proceeding as planned.

After years of prioritizing ballistic missile development, Kim has increasingly turned his focus to naval capabilities, including the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine.

While outlining his five-year military goals at February's Workers' Party congress, Kim also called for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of underwater launches.

Foreign assistance

North Korea first unveiled the Choe Hyon in April 2025, which Kim portrayed as a major step toward expanding his military's operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities.

KCNA has said the warship is equipped with a range of systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.

The Kang Kon was unveiled a month after the Choe Hyon in May 2025, but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin, prompting a furious response from Kim.

The country later said the ship was relaunched in June after repairs, but outside experts have questioned whether it's genuinely ready for active duty.

Kim has also called for building two new 5,000-tonne warships annually over the next five years, as well as developing a larger 10,000-tonne destroyer.
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Source: TRT