Kim Jong Un Oversees Cruise Missile Test From New 5,000-Tonne North Korean Destroyer
Kim Jong Un oversees cruise missile test from North Korea’s new 5,000-tonne destroyer.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of “strategic cruise missiles” from a newly built 5,000-tonne naval destroyer, the Choe Hyon, ahead of its official commissioning, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The launch took place at the Nampo Shipyard on Wednesday, where Kim visited the facility over a two-day inspection spanning Tuesday and Wednesday.
KCNA described the test as a demonstration of the destroyer’s combat capability, with Kim calling the vessel a “new symbol of sea defence” for the country. “Our Navy's forces for attacking from under and above water will grow rapidly. The arming of the Navy with nuclear weapons is making satisfactory progress,” Kim said, according to KCNA. He described the developments as a major shift in North Korea’s maritime defence posture, asserting that the successes marked a “radical change in defending our maritime sovereignty” not seen for half a century.
The Choe Hyon is the lead ship in a new class of 5,000-tonne destroyers currently under construction. South Korean analysts note that North Korea’s use of the term “strategic” typically refers to weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The missile tests follow a setback in the country’s naval modernisation program in May 2025, when a second destroyer of the same class capsized during a failed side-launch, causing damage to the hull. Kim at the time blamed the incident on “absolute carelessness” and “irresponsibility” among several state institutions.
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Kim’s inspection and the missile launch also come weeks after he addressed a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in late February, pledging to improve living standards while continuing military development. He emphasised that achieving these goals “requires us to wage a more active and persistent struggle without allowing even a moment's standstill or stagnation.”
North Korea has consistently prioritised military modernisation and nuclear weapons development, citing the need to maintain a deterrent against perceived threats from the United States and South Korea. The missile test highlights Pyongyang’s ongoing efforts to expand its maritime capabilities and signal its strategic strength amid heightened regional tensions, particularly in the context of broader international conflicts.
Analysts note that the Choe Hyon and its new class of destroyers represent a significant addition to North Korea’s naval forces, combining advanced sea-to-surface missile capabilities with enhanced nuclear deterrence potential. The country continues to assert that such developments are essential for defending its sovereignty and projecting military power in the region.
