North Korea’s Kim oversees cruise missile tests from new naval destroyer
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-firing of “strategic cruise missiles” from the new 5,000-tonne naval destroyer Choe Hyon, calling it a “core” capability and a “new symbol of sea defence” for the country.
- Kim emphasized the progress in arming the navy with nuclear weapons and called for the production of more advanced warships, highlighting a significant shift in defending North Korea’s maritime sovereignty.
- The Choe Hyon is the lead vessel in a new class of destroyers, despite a previous setback in May 2025 when a second ship capsized during launch, an incident Kim blamed on negligence and carelessness.
- Kim linked military advancements with broader national goals
