North Korea Unveils 5,000-Tonne Warship in Kim Jong Un’s Style

New Era of Naval Power: Launch of Choe Hyon-Class Multipurpose Destroyer

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the launch ceremony of a new 5,000-tonne multipurpose destroyer, a significant addition to the country’s expanding naval capabilities, state media KCNA reported on Saturday. The vessel, built entirely with “our own strength and technology” within a span of approximately 400 days, has been named the Choe Hyon-class after a historic anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter. During the ceremony held at the Nampho military shipbuilding dockyard, Kim emphasized that the ship would soon be handed over to the navy and is expected to enter service early next year. Officials described the event as marking a new era of “Kim Jong Un-style fleet building.”

Highlights

• North Korea launched a 5,000-tonne destroyer named the Choe Hyon-class.

• Kim Jong Un announced it would enter naval service early next year.

• The warship was built within roughly 400 days using domestic capabilities.

Advanced Missile Capabilities and Strategic Naval Development

According to earlier analyses, including one by Reuters, the new Choe Hyon-class destroyer is capable of accommodating dozens of vertical launch cells designed to carry a wide range of missiles already developed by North Korea. During his speech, Kim Jong Un stressed the importance of strong pre-emptive attack capabilities, calling them the most “convincing war deterrent” against external threats. He reiterated that there would be no limits to the scope of North Korea’s pre-emptive military responses if provoked. The emphasis on missile capabilities and rapid shipbuilding aligns with the regime’s broader push to strengthen naval forces amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Highlights

• New destroyer features dozens of vertical launch cells for missile deployment.

• Kim Jong Un emphasized limitless pre-emptive strike capabilities.

• The destroyer enhances North Korea’s strategic deterrence posture.

Heightened Regional Tensions Amid U.S. Military Drills

Kim Jong Un’s remarks also reflected growing frustration over the security environment on the Korean Peninsula. He criticized the United States for regularly deploying strategic assets such as B-1B bombers during joint military drills with South Korea. Earlier this month, South Korea’s defense ministry confirmed the participation of B-1B bombers alongside fighter jets in combined exercises. North Korea has long denounced these drills, perceiving them as a rehearsal for invasion, although Seoul insists the operations are strictly defensive in nature. The timing of the destroyer’s unveiling, alongside heightened military activities in the region, underscores the fragile security dynamics and the potential for further escalation.

Highlights

• Kim Jong Un criticized regular U.S. deployment of strategic assets like the B-1B bomber.

• North Korea views joint military drills as rehearsals for war.

• South Korea maintains that the exercises are purely defensive.