North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the 5,000-ton destroyer "Choe Hyeon-ho" over two days and observed a ship-to-ground strategic cruise missile test launch.
Korean Central News Agency reported on the 5th that Kim boarded the Choe Hyeon-ho at Nampo Shipyard on the 3rd and 4th to "assess the marines' ship operation training conditions and evaluate the vessel's performance and operational capabilities." After observing sea trials on the 3rd, Kim announced plans for additional destroyer construction, stating that "two surface vessels of this class or higher must be built annually during the new five-year plan period."
The Choe Hyeon-ho, named after the father of Supreme People's Assembly Chairman Choe Ryong-hae, is North Korea's first 5,000-ton class destroyer, launched on April 25 last year. Kim said "the nuclear armament of the navy is being carried out satisfactorily," adding that "our navy will be equipped with formidable offensive capabilities, and this is thoroughly for defensive purposes."
On the 4th, Kim observed the ship-to-ground strategic cruise missile test launch conducted from the Choe Hyeon-ho.
Korean Central News Agency reported the test was conducted successfully. Kim said "this test is a crucial core element in evaluating the ship's operational capabilities." Kim also inspected the construction status of the third Choe Hyeon-class destroyer at the shipyard that day. North Korea appears to be building a third destroyer similar to the Choe Hyeon-ho, with a completion target of October 10, the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party.
