North Korea’s state media reported Sunday that Kim Jong Un watched a round of weapons tests aboard the Kang Kon, a newly built 5,000-ton destroyer. The tests, held Friday, reportedly included a cruise missile launch, naval guns, and electronic warfare systems. South Korea’s military said it picked up the missile launch and is working with the U.S. to analyze it further.
This is the same ship that tipped over during a botched launch ceremony last year, which reportedly embarrassed and angered Kim at the time. It’s since been repaired. After watching Friday’s tests, Kim reportedly told officials to wrap up trials and get the ship into active service within two months — some analysts think that timeline could be aimed at lining up with North Korea’s founding anniversary in September.
It fits into a broader pattern: Kim’s been pushing hard to build up a naval force that can carry nuclear weapons, and this follows closely after another destroyer, the Choe Hyon, was already commissioned into the navy last month.
Worth flagging — all of this comes from North Korean state media, so it hasn’t been independently verified.
