North Korea sails new missile destroyer Kang Kon amid Xi Jinping visit

North Korea’s state media released photos on 6 June 2026 showing the missile destroyer Kang Kon conducting sea trials in the Sea of Japan. The vessel, a twin of the earlier Choe Hyon class ship, was rebuilt after a disastrous launch in May 2025 that left it capsized and partially submerged. Repairs allowed it to return to the water within a year, and the ship now measures about 144 m in length with a displacement of roughly 5,000 tons.

Kim Jong Un personally observed the trials together with his daughter Kim Ju‑Ae, timing the demonstration ahead of the anticipated visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping – the first such visit in almost seven years. The leader used the event to stress the growing importance of the navy within North Korea’s deterrent strategy and announced plans to construct larger destroyers of around 10,000 tons and expand the fleet’s blue‑water capabilities. Analysts view the showcase as a signal to Beijing, Washington and Seoul that Pyongyang will persist with its military modernization despite sanctions.