Kim's New Warship Test
Kim Jong Un Observes Nuclear-Capable Cruise Missile Tests Aboard North Korea's New Destroyer
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile and other weapons aboard a new 5,000-ton destroyer called the Kang Kon, according to Yahoo News. The tests happened this weekend and were broadcast by North Korean state media on Sunday.
The Kang Kon is notable because it had a troubled start. The ship was damaged during a botched launch ceremony last year but has since been repaired. Kim watched the tests from shore, according to Oskaloosa News.
Kang Kon Rises From a Failed Launch Ceremony
The Kang Kon made headlines last year for the wrong reasons. Its launch ceremony went badly, and the ship was damaged before it ever sailed. North Korea repaired the destroyer and pressed ahead with testing, a sign of how much Kim values his growing navy, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
The ship weighs 5,000 tons, making it one of North Korea's largest warships. State media showed it carrying out weapons tests while Kim observed from the shore. The display was designed to highlight North Korea's push to build a more powerful naval force.
Kim Orders Destroyer Into Active Duty Within Two Months
After watching the tests, Kim gave officials a tight deadline. He ordered them to finish all trials and put the Kang Kon into active duty within two months, according to Messenger-Inquirer. That timeline signals urgency in North Korea's naval buildup.
The order shows Kim is not just building ships for show. He wants them ready to fight. Completing trials and commissioning a warship in two months is a fast timeline for any navy.
North Korea's Navy Gets Its Second Major Destroyer
The Kang Kon follows North Korea's first major destroyer, the Choe Hyon, which Kim commissioned in June. That ship also weighs around 5,000 tons. Having two large destroyers marks a major step up for a navy that has long relied on smaller, older vessels, according to The Messenger.
Kim has made building a nuclear-armed navy a top priority. The cruise missiles tested on the Kang Kon are designed to carry nuclear warheads. Adding nuclear strike capability to surface ships gives North Korea a new way to threaten its neighbors.
Weapons Tests Signal Broader Military Ambitions
The weapons tested on the Kang Kon were not limited to cruise missiles. State media reported that other weapons systems were also put through their paces during the naval exercise. Kim has used similar events in the past to send a message to the United States and South Korea, according to Yahoo News.
North Korea has ramped up weapons testing in recent years. Analysts say the country is trying to build a military that can strike at sea, on land, and from the air. Adding nuclear-capable cruise missiles to a new destroyer is a key part of that strategy.
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