North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally watched a series of weapons tests conducted aboard a 5,000-ton warship called the Kang Kon, the country’s state media reported Sunday, as part of his ongoing effort to build a nuclear-armed naval force.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the tests took place on Friday and included the firing of a strategic cruise missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, along with the ship’s main gun and automatic cannons. The military also evaluated the destroyer’s electronic warfare systems and tested its ability to detect targets and process battlefield information.
Kim watched the exercises from shore before directing officials to finish all remaining trials and bring the Kang Kon into active service within the next two months, the state news agency reported.
The Kang Kon tests follow North Korea’s commissioning of its first 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon, in late June — an event Kim celebrated with a high-profile ceremony where he declared his navy’s nuclear buildup was on track.
The Choe Hyon was first shown publicly in April 2025, with Kim describing it as a significant step toward giving his military a longer operational reach and the ability to strike first. State media has said the warship carries a variety of weapons systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons, along with ballistic and cruise missiles capable of delivering nuclear payloads.
South Korean officials and outside analysts believe the vessel was likely constructed with help from Russia, reflecting the growing military relationship between the two countries. However, some experts have raised doubts about how capable the ship would actually be in real combat conditions.
The Kang Kon was introduced to the public one month after the Choe Hyon, in May 2025, but suffered damage during a failed launch ceremony at the northern port city of Chongjin. Kim responded with anger to the mishap. North Korea later announced the ship had been repaired and relaunched in June, though outside observers have questioned whether it is truly combat-ready.
Beyond these two vessels, Kim has set an ambitious shipbuilding agenda, calling for the production of two new 5,000-ton destroyers each year over the next five years, along with the development of a larger 10,000-ton warship. He has also expressed interest in building a nuclear-powered submarine and has called for intercontinental ballistic missiles that can be launched from underwater — goals he outlined at February’s Workers’ Party congress.
