North Korea conducted a test launch of a strategic cruise missile from the destroyer "So Hyun" amid joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea. Kim Jong Un announced the readiness of the nuclear arsenal for various operational ranges and ordered a full-scale enhancement of naval capabilities.
The North Korean state news agency, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, supervised another test launch of a strategic cruise missile from the destroyer "So Hyun" amid the annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.
The report stated that the test took place on Tuesday, 10 Mar 2025 GMT+7. Kim Jong Un watched the launch via video link, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining and expanding a "powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent." State media released photos showing Kim Ju Ae, the leader's daughter, also observing the test.
Earlier last week, North Korea had tested a strategic cruise missile from the same destroyer before its official commissioning. The term "strategic," as used by North Korean authorities, typically refers to weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The latest test occurred as South Korea and the United States began their joint "Freedom Shield" military exercises on Monday, scheduled to last 11 days. North Korea has consistently criticized these exercises as preparations for invasion, though both countries assert they are purely defensive drills.
KCNA reported that the launched cruise missile flew over the Yellow Sea for between 10,116 and 10,138 seconds before successfully striking its designated target.
Kim Jong Un stated that the country's war deterrence capabilities are being integrated into increasingly sophisticated operational systems, and that the nation's nuclear forces have entered a multidimensional operational phase. He expressed satisfaction that this test demonstrated the reliability of the integrated control system for national strategic weapons, as well as the effectiveness of the integrated combat system on the destroyer.
Additionally, Kim ordered an assessment of the military effectiveness of the ship's automatic guns and proposed ways to strengthen naval forces, noting that installing automatic naval guns on high-speed warships under 3,000 tons would significantly enhance capabilities to counter warships and conduct strategic strikes.
He further suggested that future destroyers of 5,000 and 8,000 tons should be equipped with hypersonic weapon systems instead of such guns to boost offensive capabilities.
North Korea unveiled the approximately 5,000-ton destroyer "So Hyun" in April last year, describing it as a multi-purpose destroyer equipped with hypersonic strategic cruise missiles, tactical short-range missiles, and other attack systems to strengthen the country's naval power.
In June 2025, North Korea launched another 5,000-ton destroyer named "Kang Gon," and Kim Jong Un has ordered the expedited construction of a third destroyer of the same class to be completed by the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea on 10 Oct 2025 GMT+7.