North Korea Commissions Second Choe Hyon-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer

Live updates

1. 7d ago

   North Korea Commissions Second Choe Hyon-Class Warship

   North Korea officially commissioned its second Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, named the Kang Kon, into its East Sea Fleet at Wonsan. Leader Kim Jong Un stated that the 5,000-ton nuclear-capable warship is an essential component of the country's nuclear response system. The vessel joins the fleet following live-fire trials and structural repairs. The deployment coincides with joint military exercises held by the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

   Why it matters

   The commissioning expands North Korea's naval nuclear capabilities as regional tensions escalate alongside combined military drills by Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo. The warship joins the fleet a year after experiencing a launch failure. State media describes the vessel as capable of annihilating retaliatory strikes.

   What is confirmed

   • North Korea commissioned its second Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, the Kang Kon, at Wonsan.
   • Leader Kim Jong Un stated the new destroyer is part of the country's nuclear response system.
   • The commissioning occurs while the United States, South Korea, and Japan hold military exercises.
   • The nuclear-capable warship capsized when it was previously launched.

   What to watch next

   • Any further deployment of Choe Hyon-class destroyers
   • Responses from the US, South Korea, and Japan to the naval expansion
   • Future weapons testing from the East Sea Fleet
   Sources used for this update (9)

   1. Reuters — North Korea's Kim Jong Un says new destroyer part of nuclear response system
   2. AP News — North Korea adds its 2nd naval destroyer as US, South Korea and Japan hold military exercise
   3. CNN — Nuclear-capable warship that capsized when launched finally joins North Korea’s fleet
   4. Al Jazeera — North Korea deploys warship ‘capable of annihilating retaliatory strikes’
   5. Bloomberg.com — Kim Commissions Second Destroyer to Bolster Nuclear Naval Force
   6. Politico — North Korea commissions 2nd naval destroyer as US, South Korea and Japan begin a military drill
   7. navalnews.com — North Korea Commissions Second Choe Hyon-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer
   8. The Daily Beast — Sitcom Legend, 95, Reveals Cause of Sudden Health Scare
   9. www.armyrecognition.com — North Korea commissions second nuclear-capable destroyer Kang Kon one year after launch failure.
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