North Korea commissions 5,000-ton destroyer, Kim touts nuclear capabilities
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has commissioned a new 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon, highlighting its nuclear armament and the navy's growing role.
North Korea has officially commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer that leader Kim Jong Un says symbolizes the country's expanding naval and nuclear capabilities, according to state media reports. At a ceremony on Tuesday at the western port of Nampo, Kim stated that warships like the Choe Hyon demonstrate that the nuclear armament of his navy is progressing as planned.
The Choe Hyon will be tasked with defending North Korea's western coast. The vessel is equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. South Korean officials and experts suspect the ship was built with Russian assistance, though some analysts question its readiness for active service.
In recent months, the Choe Hyon underwent several tests, including launches of what were described as nuclear-capable cruise missiles. Kim said in his speech that the navy has outgrown its role of simply defending coastal waters and is now a full-fledged force with strategic means.
Since nuclear diplomacy with the U.S. collapsed in 2019, Kim has accelerated his nuclear arsenal expansion and deepened ties with Russia and China. North Korea also plans to build a larger 10,000-ton destroyer and is working on a nuclear-powered submarine. Regional tensions remain high, as Kim has repeatedly rejected the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea, a maritime boundary drawn by the U.N. Command after the Korean War.
