North Korea conducts cruise missile tests under the supervision of leader Kim Jong-un from a newly deployed naval destroyer.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently showcased his military’s advancements by supervising the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from a newly commissioned naval destroyer. This demonstration underscores North Korea’s commitment to enhancing its maritime capabilities and reflects significant progress in its military modernization efforts, especially following previous setbacks in naval development.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the test-firing of “strategic cruise missiles” from a new naval destroyer before the vessel’s official commissioning, according to state media. During the event, which took place on Wednesday, Kim evaluated the launch of sea-to-surface missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon. He termed this test a “core” component of the new warship’s capabilities, highlighting it as a “new symbol of sea defense” for the nation.
In addition to praising this latest achievement, Kim has advocated for the construction of additional warships of this class or superior, asserting that the North Korean navy’s integration of nuclear weapons is advancing. “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 during his visit to the Nampo Shipyard in western North Korea, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Furthermore, Kim emphasized that these accomplishments represent a pivotal shift in safeguarding the country’s maritime sovereignty—an achievement that he claims has not been realized for half a century. South Korea’s Yonhap news agency observed that North Korea often refers to its “strategic” weaponry to imply potential nuclear capabilities.
According to KCNA, Kim spent two days at the shipyard, inspecting the Choe Hyon, which is the first of a new series of 5,000-tonne “Choe Hyon-class” destroyers being constructed in North Korea. This development is part of a broader initiative to modernize naval forces.
In May 2025, however, North Korea’s ambitious naval modernization effort faced setbacks when a second Choe Hyon-class destroyer capsized during a poorly conducted side-launch ceremony. Kim characterized this mishap as a “criminal act,” attributing it to “absolute carelessness” and “irresponsibility” by various state institutions.
The recent missile tests come in the wake of Kim’s commitment, articulated in late February, to improve living standards as he opened a rare congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, which convenes once every five years. During this gathering, he stressed the party’s urgent task of bolstering economic construction and uplifting the populace’s quality of life. “This requires us to wage a more active and persistent struggle without allowing even a moment’s standstill or stagnation,” he stated.
North Korea remains steadfast in prioritizing the development of nuclear weapons and military prowess, contending that a robust military presence is necessary to resist pressures from the United States and its ally, South Korea. Since ascending to power in late 2011, Kim has consistently prioritized military readiness while also emphasizing the need for economic enhancements to address ongoing challenges of poverty and resource scarcity within the nation.
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