Kim Jong Un inspects new 5,000-ton warship equipped with nuclear missiles

Monday 06 October 2025 - 08:00

By: Sahili Aya

Kim Jong Un inspects new 5,000-ton warship equipped with nuclear missiles

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a new 5,000-ton warship named Choe Hyon, the country’s first destroyer reportedly armed with nuclear missiles, state media announced on Sunday. The vessel, unveiled in April, is described by Pyongyang as a symbol of its growing naval power and self-reliance under the Juche ideology.

Kim stated that the destroyer’s purpose is to “punish enemy provocations” and strengthen North Korea’s ability to defend its sovereignty. He also pledged to build another ship of the same class by October 2026, signaling an expansion of the nation’s maritime capabilities.

According to South Korean military officials, the ship’s development may have benefited from Russian assistance, possibly in exchange for North Korean troops aiding Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine.

The inspection took place shortly after Kim vowed to deploy unspecified “special means” against South Korea, amid renewed regional tensions. Meanwhile, 28,500 U.S. troops remain stationed in South Korea, conducting joint defense drills with Seoul and Tokyo — maneuvers Pyongyang routinely condemns as invasion rehearsals.