Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, commissioned the second 5,000-ton destroyer armed with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, while calling for the development of a strong and credible nuclear deterrent capability.
On 7 September 2026 GMT+7, North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong Un, the country's supreme leader, presided over the commissioning ceremony of the destroyer "Kang Kon" into the navy. He urged the nation to advance its nuclear war deterrence capabilities to be stronger and more credible, amid trilateral military exercises involving the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, which North Korea perceives as security threats.
The commissioning ceremony for the Kang Kon destroyer took place last Sunday in the eastern port city of Wonsan. Kim Jong Un attended the event accompanied by his teenage daughter, whom South Korean intelligence agencies suggest is likely to be his political heir.
The Kang Kon destroyer and the Choe Hyon destroyer, which was commissioned in June, are both 5,000-ton warships equipped with missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads, making them North Korea's most advanced naval vessels to date.
During his speech at the ceremony, Kim Jong Un stated that the continuous addition of warships would instill fear in adversaries. He noted that equipping the navy with nuclear weapons enhances North Korea's nuclear deterrence capabilities, making them more diverse and tangible. The leader added that enemy concerns will certainly increase and called for building a more powerful and credible nuclear deterrent, enabling effective use of nuclear weapons in various forms and strengthening military activities to protect maritime security and prevent war.
Source: Yonhap