Kim Jong Un inspects new destroyer, vows faster push for nuclear-armed navy

Kim Jong Un inspected North Korea’s newest destroyer for two consecutive days ahead of its commissioning and observed a cruise missile test fired from the vessel, vowing to accelerate the nuclear armament of the country’s navy, state media reported Thursday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean leader visited the western shipyard in Nampo on Tuesday and Wednesday, where he also checked the construction of a third destroyer of the same class as the 5,000-ton warship Choe Hyon, first unveiled in April 2025.

Kim has described the development of the Choe Hyon as a major step toward expanding the operational range and pre-emptive strike capabilities of North Korea’s nuclear-armed forces. State media says the vessel is designed to carry multiple weapons systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.

Military officials and analysts in South Korea say the destroyer may have been built with assistance from Russia amid deepening military ties between the two countries, though some experts question whether the ship is fully ready for active service.

North Korea unveiled a second destroyer of the same class in May last year, but it was damaged during a failed launch ceremony at the northeastern port city of Chongjin, prompting a furious reaction from Kim, who called the incident “criminal.” Authorities later said the ship, named Kang Kon, was relaunched in June after repairs, though outside analysts remain uncertain about its operational status.

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

Kim returned to the site on Wednesday to watch the launch of cruise missiles from the destroyer. Photographs released by state media showed him observing from shore as several projectiles rose from the ship in plumes of white smoke. The missiles were described as “strategic,” a term often used by Pyongyang for nuclear-capable systems.

After years of focusing on ballistic missile development, Kim has increasingly emphasized 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 founding anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea in October.

Naval modernization was also a central theme when Kim outlined his five-year military goals at last month’s party congress, including plans for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of being launched from underwater.

Kim claimed Tuesday that efforts to equip the navy with nuclear weapons were progressing “satisfactorily,” saying the advances would bring “a radical change in defending our maritime sovereignty.”

Some analysts believe North Korea may also be preparing to formally declare a maritime boundary that could overlap waters controlled by South Korea.

As tensions on the Korean Peninsula deepen, Kim has repeatedly rejected the Northern Limit Line, the western sea boundary drawn by the US-led United Nations Command after the Korean War. The disputed line has been the site of several deadly naval clashes in past years.

At the party congress, Kim also reaffirmed plans to expand North Korea’s nuclear arsenal — which already includes weapons systems capable of threatening the United States and its Asian allies — while maintaining a hardline stance toward rival South Korea.

However, he left the door open to dialogue with the administration of Donald Trump, reiterating Pyongyang’s demand that Washington abandon its insistence on denuclearization as a precondition for reviving stalled negotiations.