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4w ago

North Korea Unveils Advanced 5,000-Ton Destroyer to Bolster Naval Power

Kim Jong Un announces plans to expand naval capabilities, including nuclear-powered submarines, in response to perceived -South Korea threats.

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This photo, released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, shows Pyongyang's new navy destroyer unveiled at a launching ceremony held at a shipyard in the North's western port city of Nampho on April 25, 2025. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • North Korea launched its first Choe Hyon-class destroyer, a 5,000-ton warship equipped with advanced weapons systems for air, sea, and land defense.
  • Kim Jong Un attended the unveiling ceremony in Nampho, emphasizing the destroyer’s role in defending maritime sovereignty and enhancing pre-emptive strike capabilities.
  • The destroyer features supersonic cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and vertical launch systems, marking a significant leap in North Korea’s naval technology.
  • Kim pledged to deliver the destroyer to the navy by early 2026 and outlined plans for additional warships, cruisers, and nuclear-powered submarines.
  • The launch follows heightened tensions with the U.S. and South Korea over joint military drills, which Pyongyang views as provocations warranting decisive countermeasures.