Photo: North Korea Conducts Cruise Missile Test from a New Destroyer — Yonhap
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took part in demonstration tests of a strategic cruise missile and other types of weapons, which took place during an inspection of the new 5,000-metric-ton destroyer “Kang Kon.”
The maneuvers were aimed at testing the combat readiness of the ship’s systems under real-world conditions, confirming Pyongyang’s policy of increasing its military presence in the region.
According to official information from the Korean Central News Agency, during his visit to the ship, Kim observed live-fire exercises involving naval artillery and automatic cannons, as well as the operation of electronic warfare systems.
South Korean military officials have officially confirmed Friday’s launch of a cruise missile toward the Sea of Japan and are currently conducting a thorough analysis of all technical parameters of the launch in cooperation with Washington.
Following the inspection, the North Korean leader issued an order to complete the final modifications to the destroyer and incorporate it into the Navy’s combat fleet within two months.
In addition to the military exercises, Kim Jong-un held a closed-door meeting on the prospects for developing the country’s shipbuilding industry, the details of which remain confidential.
Military analysts speculate that the weapons used during the tests belong to the “Hwasal” family of cruise missiles.
The use of the term “strategic” in North Korean media suggests that these missiles are potentially designed to carry nuclear warheads, which would significantly alter the balance of power at sea.
Experts link these tests to the expansion of the navy’s militarization program, as just last month a similar destroyer, the “Choe Hyon,” was commissioned into the DPRK’s forces.
It is expected that the use of such ships will allow Pyongyang to rapidly deploy its own maritime nuclear deterrent in both the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.
Yonhap reported this on Sunday, citing North Korean state media.
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