Kim Jong Un orders new Korean destroyer Kang Kon into service after missile tests
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed weapons tests on the 5,000‑ton destroyer Kang Kon, including the launch of a strategic cruise missile, firing of the main naval gun and automatic cannons, and trials of electronic‑warfare and target‑detection systems. The state news agency KCNA said the assessments were carried out on Friday to verify the vessel’s combat capabilities.
After watching the tests from a coastal observation point, Kim ordered that the trial phase be completed and the ship be commissioned into the navy within two months. Kang Kon had partially capsized during its launch ceremony in May 2025 and was subsequently repaired before the latest tests.
The exercise follows the June commissioning of the sister 5,000‑ton destroyer Choe Hyon and is part of a broader naval‑modernisation drive. Kim has announced plans to build two destroyers of this class each year for the next five years and to develop a larger 10,000‑ton warship, aiming to equip the navy with nuclear‑capable missiles.