Kim Jong-Un oversaw weapons tests this week of the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon, including cruise missile launches and “electronic warfare means”, state media reported.
The naval vessel was notably the one that tipped over last year during its launch ceremony, but later repaired.
The tests took place on Friday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, less than two weeks after another 5,000-tonne destroyer, the Choe Hyon entered military service.
During that commissioning ceremony, Kim vowed to equip his navy with nuclear weapons and develop new 10,000-tonne warships.
After the weapons test on Friday, Kim “gave an instruction to complete the trial process of the destroyer in a responsible manner and commission it for the Navy within two months,” KCNA said.
A photo released by KCNA shows Kim, wearing a yellow hat, watching a weapons test from a coastal observation point, flanked by officials.
Another photo shows Kang Kon firing a missile at sea, with a plume of smoke rising from the launch.
While reiterating the need to strengthen the country’s “war deterrent”, Kim also pledged to demonstrate North Korea’s determination to possess “absolute power”, KCNA said.
The Kang Kon suffered a setback in May last year when it partially capsized after tipping into the water during its launch, damaging the vessel in full view of Kim.
He blamed the accident on “absolute carelessness” and “irresponsibility”, ordering that those responsible be held accountable.
Analysts said Kim’s instruction to commission the vessel within two months could be linked to a major political anniversary.
“Given North Korea’s political calendar, the most likely scenario is that the vessel will be commissioned to coincide with the 78th anniversary of the country’s founding on Sept 9,” said Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.
Once deployed, the warship is likely to operate off the Korean peninsula’s eastern coast, he said.
“For the time being, the focus is likely to be on building proficiency in low-threat, nearshore operations.”
Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear state since a 2019 summit between Kim and US counterpart Donald Trump in Hanoi collapsed over the scope of denuclearisation and sanctions relief.
The South Korean navy runs more than 10 ships over 5,000 tonnes compared to the North’s two. — AFP
