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Published on Reflecto News | World News | Defense & Geopolitics
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally supervised a new round of missile tests from his country’s advanced naval destroyer over the weekend, state media confirmed on Tuesday, marking the latest demonstration of Pyongyang’s rapidly advancing weapons capabilities. Kim observed the launches of two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles from the 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon on Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) .
The tests, conducted in the Yellow Sea (referred to by North Korea as the “West Sea of Korea”), saw the cruise missiles fly for over two hours (7,869 to 7,920 seconds) and the anti-ship missiles for approximately 33 minutes (1,960 to 1,973 seconds) before striking their targets with what KCNA described as “ultra-precision accuracy” .
Kim’s Message: A ‘Limitless’ Nuclear War Deterrent
Following the successful launches, Kim emphasized that strengthening the country’s nuclear war deterrent remains the “most important priority task” and called for its “steady and limitless” expansion . According to KCNA, Kim expressed “great satisfaction” that the “preparedness of our army’s strategic action has been strengthened in a qualitative way” .
The state-run Rodong Sinmun published photographs showing Kim observing the launches from a pier alongside senior defense officials and naval commanders, while another image captured a missile in its initial flight stage trailing orange flame as it arced away from the warship .
| Test Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Test | Sunday, April 12, 2026 |
| Vessel | Choe Hyon (5,000-ton destroyer) |
| Missiles Fired | 2 strategic cruise missiles, 3 anti-ship missiles |
| Cruise Missile Flight Time | ~7,900 seconds (over 2 hours) |
| Anti-Ship Missile Flight Time | ~1,960 seconds (~33 minutes) |
| Location | Yellow Sea (West Sea of Korea) |
A Growing Fleet: The Choe Hyon Class
The Choe Hyon, first unveiled in April 2025, represents a major step in Kim’s push to modernize the North’s navy. State media describes the vessel as designed to carry a range of systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles . The term “strategic” used by KCNA typically denotes that the weapons are intended to have nuclear capabilities .
Kim was also briefed on the weapons systems plans for the third and fourth destroyers of the same class currently under construction. This suggests an acceleration of the naval buildup; after launching a second destroyer (Kang Kon) in June 2025, Kim had ordered a third vessel to be completed by the October founding anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party .
Strategic Timing and Global Distractions
Analysts view these tests as part of a broader strategy by Pyongyang to advance its weapons programs amid global distractions. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University, noted that the reference to a fourth destroyer indicates North Korea is “accelerating the formation of a destroyer flotilla” .
Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), suggested the timing of the disclosure is notable, coinciding with heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. “It may be the North’s attempt to flex its military muscle amid the Iran war,” Shin said . Kim is reportedly seeking to exploit global strategic distractions to push ahead with what experts describe as irreversible advances in nuclear and delivery capabilities .
International Monitoring
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that it detected the flight of multiple cruise missiles from the Yellow Sea near the North’s western coastal city of Nampho on Sunday morning. The military stated it is maintaining a robust combined defense posture with the United States and is prepared to respond to any provocation in an “overwhelming manner” .
The latest launches from the Choe Hyon add to a recent run of weapons tests as North Korea pushes to expand its nuclear-capable forces, rejecting offers for dialogue and hardening its stance toward both Seoul and Washington .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What missiles did North Korea test from the destroyer?
North Korea launched two “strategic” cruise missiles (suggesting potential nuclear capability) and three anti-ship missiles from the 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon .
2. What was Kim Jong Un’s message during the tests?
Kim reiterated that bolstering the country’s “powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent” is the “most important priority task” and called for its “steady and limitless” expansion .
3. How advanced is the Choe Hyon destroyer?
The Choe Hyon is a 5,000-ton-class warship first unveiled in April 2025. State media says it is designed to carry nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles, anti-air weapons, and anti-ship systems, representing a major step in North Korea’s naval modernization .
4. Is North Korea building more ships like the Choe Hyon?
Yes. Kim was briefed on weapons system plans for a third and fourth destroyer currently under construction. A third vessel is reportedly expected to be completed by October 2026 .
5. How did South Korea respond to the launches?
South Korea’s military detected the launches and stated it is closely monitoring North Korean activities under a robust combined defense posture with the United States, ready to respond to any provocation .
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