Key facts
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the test firing of a strategic cruise missile and other weapons systems aboard the naval destroyer Kang Kon.
- The tests were conducted to assess the warship's combat systems, including target detection, firepower, and electronic warfare capabilities.
- Kim Jong Un ordered the Kang Kon to be commissioned into naval service within two months.
- North Korea plans to build two 5,000-ton destroyers annually for the next five years as part of a naval modernization drive.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the test firing of a strategic cruise missile and other weapons systems aboard the newly built naval destroyer Kang Kon, state media reported. The tests, conducted on Friday, were part of an assessment of the warship's combat capabilities, including target detection, information processing, integrated firepower, naval guns, automatic cannons, and electronic warfare equipment.
Kim Jong Un was briefed on the vessel's weapons evaluation program before witnessing the missile launch and other tests. He praised recent advances in weapons development and urged further efforts to enhance North Korea's war deterrence and combat capabilities. The leader ordered officials to complete trials of the Kang Kon and commission it into naval service within two months.
This development follows North Korea's commissioning of the 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon late last month and plans to deploy the Kang Kon, a vessel of the same class. The move is part of a broader naval modernization drive, with Kim calling for the construction of two such destroyers annually for the next five years, alongside plans for larger 10,000-ton warships. The Kang Kon had previously been repaired after partially capsizing during a launch ceremony last year. North Korea has increasingly emphasized naval development to strengthen what Kim has described as the weakest branch of its armed forces.