According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim toured the 5,000-ton warship, one of two vessels of its class launched this year as part of efforts to enhance the country’s naval capabilities. He described the ship as “a clear demonstration of the development of the armed forces,” and said that the navy’s strength “should be exercised in the vast ocean to thoroughly deter or counter and punish the enemy’s provocations for the sovereignty of the state.”
Kim has reportedly instructed the construction of a third destroyer of the same class by October 2026. The Choe Hyon-class destroyers mark a significant step in Pyongyang’s ongoing efforts to expand its maritime power, though analysts note that it remains unclear when the vessels will become fully operational.South Korea’s military has suggested that the destroyer’s development may have involved technical assistance from Russia, possibly in exchange for North Korean military support in Ukraine.
In September, Seoul-based SI Analytics reported that satellite images showed North Korea installing engines in the Choe Hyon, indicating that the ship could begin sea trials as early as this month. Photographs released by KCNA showed Kim observing the ship’s control room and pointing to a map while surrounded by military officials.Kim’s visit followed his announcement of plans to deploy unspecified “special assets to major targets” in response to what he described as the United States’ military buildup in South Korea. The U.S. currently stations around 28,500 troops in the South, conducting regular joint exercises with Seoul and Tokyo.
Pyongyang has long denounced such drills as rehearsals for invasion, while Washington and its allies insist they are defensive measures.