North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised test-firings of nuclear-capable cruise missiles and other weapons aboard a new 5,000-ton naval destroyer on Friday, July 3, state media reported, in the latest display of Pyongyang's drive to build a nuclear-armed Navy. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim observed the tests from the destroyer Kang Kon, which also conducted trials of its main gun, automatic cannons, electronic warfare systems, and target-detection and information-processing capabilities. Around ten cruise missiles were fired in succession toward the East Sea — the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan — footage released by North Korean state television showed. The South Korean military confirmed it had detected the cruise missile launches from the vessel, and said Seoul and Washington were analysing the details.
Kim subsequently ordered officials to complete the destroyer's trials and place it in active service within two months. Analysts suggest the timing may be deliberate: North Korea's government founding anniversary falls on September 9, potentially providing a symbolic occasion for the commissioning. Kim also convened a consultative meeting on warship development, though KCNA disclosed no further details. Experts believe the missiles fired are likely from the Hwasal series of cruise missiles; Pyongyang's use of the term "strategic" implies they may be nuclear-capable.
The Kang Kon has had a troubled history. It was unveiled in May 2025 — roughly a month after North Korea introduced its first 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon — but capsized during its initial launch ceremony at the northern port of Chongjin, drawing a furious response from Kim. The vessel was relaunched after repairs in June 2025, though outside analysts have continued to question whether it is genuinely ready for active service. The Choe Hyon was formally commissioned in late June 2026, with Kim declaring that the nuclear armament of his Navy was proceeding as planned. South Korean officials and some analysts believe the Choe Hyon was built with Russian assistance, reflecting deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
The naval push is part of a broader military transformation Kim outlined at February's Workers' Party congress, where he called for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of underwater launches and set a goal of producing two new 5,000-ton warships annually over five years, with plans for a still-larger 10,000-ton destroyer. Analysts see the twin deployments of the Choe Hyon and the Kang Kon as an attempt to establish maritime nuclear capabilities on both of Korea's flanks — the Yellow Sea to the west and the East Sea to the east — significantly expanding Pyongyang's strategic reach beyond land-based missile systems.