North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed a test-firing of strategic cruise and anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon on Sunday, state media reported Tuesday. Kim stressed bolstering the nuclear war deterrent as the nation's top priority. The test aimed to verify operational efficiency.
North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon on Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Leader Kim Jong-un observed the launches from a pier at an unspecified location alongside military officials.
Kim stated that "the preparedness of our army's strategic action has been strengthened in a qualitative way with various achievements recently made in the field of defense science." He called for "steadily and unlimitedly bolstering up the powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent" as the nation's most important priority task.
The cruise missiles flew for 7,869-7,920 seconds and the anti-warship missiles for 1,960-1,973 seconds along preset orbits over the Yellow Sea, hitting targets with "ultra-precision hit accuracy," KCNA reported. The test checked the warship's integrated weapon command system's launching control and the improved anti-jamming navigation system's accuracy.
The 5,000-ton Choe Hyon was unveiled in April 2025 to modernize naval power. North Korea conducted similar cruise missile tests from the vessel twice in March ahead of commissioning. Kim was briefed on weapons systems for destroyers No. 3 and No. 4 under construction and had ordered a third destroyer by the Workers' Party founding anniversary on Oct. 10.
