North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised weapons tests conducted from the country’s new 5,000-tonne naval destroyer, Kang Kon, and directed that the warship be commissioned into the Navy within the next two months. According to state media, the tests included strategic cruise missiles, naval artillery, automatic guns, and electronic warfare systems as part of efforts to verify the vessel’s combat capabilities.
South Korea’s military confirmed that it detected North Korea launching cruise weapons from the destroyer toward the East Sea on Friday and said Seoul and Washington were jointly analysing the launches. The Kang Kon was launched in June after an earlier launch attempt ended in an accident when the vessel tipped over. North Korea said the latest tests were intended to evaluate the destroyer’s ability to operate multiple onboard weapon systems under combat conditions.
Kim Jong-un called for accelerating the country’s military modernisation and strengthening its war deterrence capabilities. Defence analysts believe the destroyer is expected to carry Hwasal-series strategic cruise missiles, which could potentially have nuclear capabilities. Experts also say North Korea is moving to expand its maritime nuclear deterrent by deploying advanced destroyers in both the East Sea and West Sea as part of its broader military strategy.
