Kim Jong Un oversees Kang Kon destroyer weapons tests, orders warship to join navy within two months

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised weapons tests aboard the 5,000-tonne destroyer Kang Kon, directing officials to complete its remaining trials and commission it into the navy within two months, according to state media on Sunday. The exercises, which included cruise missile launches and the testing of "electronic warfare means", took place on Friday as Pyongyang continued its efforts to expand its naval capabilities.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the tests were conducted less than two weeks after another 5,000-tonne destroyer, the Choe Hyon, entered military service.

During the commissioning ceremony for the Choe Hyon, Kim pledged to equip North Korea's navy with nuclear weapons and develop new 10,000-tonne warships.

Following Friday's exercises, 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.

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Images released by the agency showed Kim, wearing a yellow hat, observing the tests from a coastal observation point with senior officials, while another photograph captured the Kang Kon launching a missile at sea.

KCNA said Kim reiterated the need to strengthen the country's "war deterrent" and pledged to demonstrate North Korea's determination to possess "absolute power".

Warship recovered after launch accident

The Kang Kon is the same vessel that partially capsized during its launch ceremony in May last year, when it tipped into the water and sustained damage in front of Kim.

Following the accident, Kim criticised what he described as "absolute carelessness" and "irresponsibility", ordering those responsible to be held accountable.

Analysts believe the order to induct the destroyer within two months could be linked to a significant date in North Korea's political calendar.

"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 September 9," Hong Min of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul told AFP.

He added that, once deployed, the warship would likely operate off the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula.

"For the time being, the focus is likely to be on building proficiency in low-threat, nearshore operations."

North Korea continues military build-up

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.

North Korea remains technically at war with the South because the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

The report noted that the South Korean navy operates more than 10 ships over 5,000 tonnes, compared with North Korea's two.