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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles from a newly built 5,000-ton naval destroyer.<\/p>\n
The missiles were launched from the Choe Hyon, the lead vessel of a new class of destroyers, during Kim\u2019s visit to the Nampo shipyard on North Korea\u2019s west coast earlier this week.<\/p>\n
According to North Korea\u2019s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim observed the launch of sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles from the destroyer on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
State media said the test demonstrated the warship\u2019s operational capability. Photos released by KCNA showed the vessel firing at least four cruise missiles in succession, while Kim monitored the exercise from land.<\/p>\n
North Korea often uses the term \u201cstrategic weapons\u201d to refer to systems that may be capable of carrying nuclear warheads, according to South Korean officials and analysts.<\/p>\n
South Korea\u2019s Joint Chiefs of Staff said multiple cruise missiles were detected at around 8:30 a.m. local time, launched from the Nampho area toward the Yellow Sea.<\/p>\n
The Choe Hyon is a 5,000-ton multipurpose destroyer, unveiled in April 2025 as part of North Korea\u2019s plan to expand and modernise its naval forces.<\/p>\n
During the inspection, Kim described the warship as a \u201cnew symbol of sea defense capability.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stated that the country\u2019s naval forces would continue to expand both above and below the water, adding that progress was being made in equipping the navy with nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n