North Korean Destroyer Tests Strategic Cruise Missile
North Korean destroyer Choe Hyon (51) successfully test fired a sea-to-surface strategic cruise missile Wednesday as leader Kim Jong Un called for two destroyers to be built annually, state media reported.
Kim oversaw the test firing while on a two-day visit of the destroyer, which is undergoing operational capability trials and evaluation at the Nampo shipyard on North Korea’s west coast, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
North Korea launched the first-in-class Choe Hyon on April 25, 2025 – its largest warship ever built. The 5,000 ton destroyer is said to have nuclear weapons capabilities, with its cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads. North Korea uses the term strategic on its missile systems to indicate nuclear warhead capability. It is unclear when Choe Hyon will enter operational service.
On the first day of the visit, Kim boarded Choe Hyon to see how the ship’s crew was progressing with their training and operation of the ship. The destroyer reportedly got underway with Kim onboard for a shakedown cruise to test Choe Hyon’s maneuverability.
According to state media reporting, Kim was satisfied with the progress of all system-specific tests for the destroyer’s operational commissioning. He also expressed he was pleased with the sailors’ readiness for a strategic attack.
On the same day, Kim also inspected the construction of the third Choe Hyon-class destroyer currently underway at the Nampo shipyard. The destroyer is expected to be commissioned this year, KCNA reported.
In a speech regarding the visit, Kim renewed his call for two destroyers or larger class ships to be built annually under North Korea’s five year plan. Kim previously called last year for a two-ship annual construction rate.
“We must build two surface ships of this class or higher each year during the new five-year plan period and accurately execute the plan to build a massive surface combatant force,” he said.
Second of its class Kang Kon (52) had to be relaunched June 12 following a failed launch May 21. Kang Kon was built at the Chongjin Shipyard on North Korea’s northeast coast. North Korea subsequently raised the ship and towed it to Rajin Shipyard, which lies around 50 miles north of Chongjin Shipyard and relaunched it there.
The North Korean leader also said the Korean People’s Army Navy underwater and surface attack capabilities will rapidly grow in the coming years under the country’s five-year plan and that the arming of the Navy with nuclear weapons is making satisfactory progress.
North Korea’s ruling WPK party held its Ninth Party Congress Feb. 19-23 in Pyongyang, which unveiled the country’s five year plan for its development which prioritized raising its standards of living and economy, continued improvement of its military and maintaining self-reliance
