North Korea’s Kim Inspects New Destroyer, Vows Progress On Naval Nuclear Expansion

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 said on Thursday.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim, during his visits to the western shipyard of Nampo on Tuesday and Wednesday, also inspected the construction of a third destroyer of the same class as his 5,000‑ton warship, the Choe Hyon, first unveiled in April 2025.

Kim has hailed the development of Choe Hyon as a significant advancement toward his goal of expanding the operational range and pre-emptive strike capabilities of his nuclear‑armed military. State media says the ship is designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti‑air and anti‑naval weapons, as well as nuclear‑capable ballistic and cruise missiles. South Korean military officials and experts say the Choe Hyon was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties, though some have raised doubts about whether it is ready for active service.

North Korea unveiled a second destroyer of the same class in May last year, but it was damaged during a botched launching ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin, triggering a furious reaction from Kim, who called the failure “criminal”. North Korea has said the new destroyer, named Kang Kon, was relaunched in June after repairs, but outside experts have questioned whether the ship is fully operational.

After observing Choe Hyon’s sea trials on Tuesday, Kim said the ship met operational requirements and called it a symbol of the country’s expanding naval capabilities. He called for building two warships a year over the next five years of the same or higher class as the Choe Hyon.

Kim returned on Wednesday to observe a test launch of cruise missiles from the Choe Hyon. State media published photos of him watching from shore as several projectiles rose from the vessel in plumes of white smoke and described the weapons as “strategic”, a term used for nuclear‑capable systems.

After years of focusing on ballistic missile development, Kim has shifted more attention to naval capabilities, including the ongoing construction of a nuclear‑powered submarine. KCNA said 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 also a key focus when Kim outlined his five‑year military goals at last month’s Workers’ Party congress, which included calls for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of being launched from underwater.

KCNA did not elaborate on what Kim meant. Some analysts suggest North Korea may be preparing to formally declare a maritime boundary that could encroach on waters controlled by rival South Korea.

As inter‑Korean tensions worsen, Kim has repeatedly said he does not recognise the Northern Limit Line, drawn by the US‑led UN Command at the end of the 1950–53 Korean War. The poorly drawn western sea boundary has been the site of several deadly naval clashes in recent years.

At the party congress, Kim doubled down on plans to expand North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, which already includes various weapons systems threatening the United States and its allies in Asia, while reaffirming his hardline stance toward South Korea.

However, he left the door open for dialogue with the Donald Trump administration, reiterating Pyongyang’s demand that Washington drop its insistence on denuclearisation as a precondition for resuming long‑stalled talks.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

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