North Korea Commissions First Destroyer, Eyes Nuclear Fleet
Kim Jong Un has announced the commissioning of North Korea's first 5,000-ton destroyer, vowing to build a full nuclear-armed navy.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced the commissioning of the country's first destroyer, marking the start of a plan to create a navy equipped with nuclear weapons. The vessel, named "Choe Hyon" and displacing 5,000 tons, was accepted into service at the port of Nampo on the west coast.
Kim stated that the warship possesses the most advanced operational and combat capabilities. Over the next five years, Pyongyang plans to build two larger ships annually, including a 10,000-ton cruiser, as well as support vessels and underwater weapon systems. Currently, the North Korean navy consists mostly of small coastal defense ships.
The move aims to strengthen North Korea's firepower in the Yellow Sea to the west and in eastern waters toward Japan. At a recent Politburo meeting, Kim called for accelerating the country's nuclear buildup, citing the "bloody situation" in the Middle East as justification for his nuclear course.
In late 2025, North Korea publicly displayed the construction of its first nuclear submarine with a displacement of about 8,700 tons. Plans include arming it with Pukguksong-class ballistic missiles to complete the nuclear triad. Military analysts in Seoul and Washington suspect that Russia may have provided technical assistance, including fuel and reactor technologies, in exchange for North Korean artillery shells and missiles used in the war against Ukraine.
