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North Korean leader observes strategic weapons tests aboard new naval ... North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile and other weapons aboard the new 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon, state media said, as Pyongyang continued its push to build a nuclear-armed navy. The officialKorean Central News Agency (KCNA)said Friday's event included test firings of a strategic cruise missile, the destroyer's main gun and automatic cannons, as well as trials of its electronic warfare systems and assessments of its target-detection and information-processing capabilities. After observing the tests from shore, Kim ordered officials to complete the destroyer's trials and place the vessel in active duty within two months, the state news agency said. Naval expansion The tests came after North Korea in late June commissioned its first 5,000-tonne destroyer, the Choe Hyon, a milestone Kim marked with a lavish ceremony where he declared that the nuclear armament of his navy was proceeding as planned. After years of prioritizing ballistic missile development, Kim has increasingly turned his focus to naval capabilities, including the construction of a nucl…

North Korea's Kim unveils plans for 10,000-tonne warships, nuclear navy ... North Korea’s Kim unveils plans for 10,000-tonne warships, nuclear navy Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaking during the commissioning ceremony of the new multipurpose destroyer Choe Hyon at Nampho port, North Korea on June 23, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS Published Jun 24, 2026, 06:20 AM Updated Jun 24, 2026, 03:40 PM Set as preferred source Listen SEOUL - North Korea will equip its navy with nuclear weapons and build larger warships, leader Kim Jong Un said according to state media on June 24, as Pyongyang pushes ahead with a military expansion. The hermetic nation is under multiple sets of sanctions over a nuclear programme its leaders have vowed to pursue as an essential deterrent to the United States and South Korea. Kim made his remarks at the commissioning of the Choe Hyon – one of two 5,000-tonne class warships launched in 2025 – in the port city of Nampho on June 23, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. “The programme of equipping the Navy with nuclear weapons is following its planned course unerringly,” Kim reportedly told the c…

North Korean leader Kim observes weapons tests from new naval ... - SFGATE In this photo provided by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, second left, supervises tests of a destroyer, the Kang Kon’s main gun and automatic cannons at an undisclosed place in North Korea Friday, July 3, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) 朝鮮通信/KCNA via KNS via AP This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says the tests of a destroyer, the Kang Kon’s strategic cruise missile at an undisclosed place in North Korea Friday, July 3, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) 朝鮮通信社/KC…

North Korea's Kim unveils plans for new warships and nuclear-armed navy ... North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled plans to build two large warships each year over the next five years — while outfitting his navy with nuclear weapons — but questions remain over the effectiveness of the move. At a ceremony for the commissioning of the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer, Kim called for his country to “launch 10,000-ton strategic warships one after another,” the official Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. Pyongyang often uses the term “strategic” to reference its nuclear weapons capabilities. At the ceremony, which took place Tuesday, Kim said the North Korean Navy was “entering a new phase of its development” and has assumed “a new historic mission.” In a time of both misinformation and too much information,quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section ofyour subscriber account page. Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more …

North Korea’s Kim orders navy to build 10,000-tonne destroyer: State media Kim Jong Un has continued to visit military sites before a visit by China's Xi Jinping on Monday and Tuesday.

North Korean leader Kim showcases new warship ahead of visit by China’s Xi North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon as it underwent capability tests

Kim Jong Un oversees nuclear-capable missile tests from newly repaired warship North Korea's Kim Jong Un has overseen tests of nuclear-capable cruise missiles and other systems aboard a newly repaired 5,000-ton destroyer, the Kang Kon. This move signals Pyongyang's intensified efforts to bolster its naval nuclear capabilities, following the recent commissioning of another similar vessel. Kim has ordered the Kang Kon to be operational within two months, underscoring a strategic shift towards expanding its sea-based nuclear arsenal.

Kim Jong-un Unleashes Nuclear-Capable Kang Kon Destroyer as North Korea ... Kim Jong-un Unleashes Nuclear-Capable Kang Kon Destroyer as North Korea Expands Maritime Strike Power Against US Allies Pyongyang’s latest strategic cruise missile test aboard the Kang Kon guided-missile destroyer signals North Korea’s accelerating transition toward a nuclear-capable green-water navy capable of challenging US-led maritime deterrence architecture across Northeast Asia. English International Military Technology By admin On Jul 5, 2026 Share (DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accelerated Pyongyang’s transition toward a nuclear-capable maritime deterrence posture after personally supervising strategic combat system trials aboard the new Kang Kon guided-missile destroyer during a high-profile naval demonstration on July 3, 2026. The weapons evaluation event demonstrated North Korea’s attempt to transform the Korean People’s Army Navy from a coastal defence fleet into a limited green-water force capable of deploying nuclear-capable strategic strike systems beyond immediate territorial waters. State media reported that the Kang Kon destroyer launched a strategic cruise …

North Korea's Kim Claims Progress on Nuclear-Armed Navy as New Warship ... Like Follow Followed Add us on Kim Tong-Hyung Published Jun 24, 2026, 5:56 AM EDT Sign in to your Military.com account In this photo provided Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by the North Korean government, North Korean destroyer Choe Hyon leaves the port following a commissioning ceremony in Nampo Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Originally published by Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer that leader Kim Jong Un touts as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities, state media reported Wednesday, as Pyongyang seeks to expand its ability to project military power at sea. North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim told a commissioning ceremony Tuesday at the western port of Nampo that warships such as the Choe Hyon show that the nuclear armament of his navy is progressing as planned. KCNA said the Choe Hyon was formally placed into service with North Korea’s navy after the ceremony and will be tasked with defending the country’s western coast. Since unveiling the ship in April…

North Korea lays out ambitious naval shipbuilding plan From our Correspondents North Korea Sea Power The domestically constructed destroyer Choe Hyon was commissioned into the Korean People’s Navy at Nampo Port on 23 June. (KCNA) North Korean paramount leader Kim Jong-un has unveiled plans to build at least two major warships annually over the next five years. This includes a new class of 10,000-tonne cruiser, as Pyongyang seeks to rapidly modernise what Kim describes as a long-neglected navy. His vision was outlined during the commissioning ceremony of the lead ship of the Choe Hyon -class destroyer at Nampo Port on 23 June. “In the new five-year-plan period, we should correctly implement all the plans for building up our naval capability. We should build every year two surface ships whose class is higher than the Choe Hyon , including a 10,000-tonne cruiser. And we should build escort ships and ships for special purposes, and develop and produce underwater weapon systems,” Kim said. The North Korean dictator also announced plans to construct new naval bases to support the expansion and operation of a larger fleet. The 5,000-tonne Choe Hyon had been launched in April 2025, and it…

North Korea to build 10,000-ton destroyer, state media says before Xi visit <p>North Korea plans to build a 10,000-ton destroyer and develop secret underwater weapons, state media said on Saturday, ahead of a<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2005375"> visit</a> by Chinese President Xi Jinping.</p> <p>The <em>Rodong Sinmun</em> newspaper, reporting on a Thursday naval test supervised by leader Kim Jong Un, said he ordered the navy to deploy the destroyer Kang Kon and another 5,000-ton warship, the Choe Hyon, as soon as possible.</p> <p>The newspaper did not give further details.</p> <p>It is the first time North Korea has mentioned a plan to build a 10,000-ton destroyer, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at South Korea’s Institute for National Unification.</p> <p>Kim may be seeking to showcase the country’s military capabilities ahead of Xi’s visit on Monday and Tuesday, Hong said.</p> <p>The North Korean leader said Pyongyang must enhance its naval capabilities to deter a nuclear war, while calling for powerful military capabilities across land, sea and air, the newspaper said.</p> <p>Xi is making his first visit to North Korea in nearly seven years as Beijing looks to reassert tie…