N. Korea's Kim observes test-firing of cruise, anti-warship missiles from key destroyer

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, shows the North's test-firing of strategic cruise and anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon, Sunday, observed by leader Kim Jong-un. Yonhap

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a test-firing of strategic cruise and anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon, stressing the country's top priority is to bolster a nuclear war deterrent "without limit," state media reported Tuesday.

North Korea conducted the launches of two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-warship missiles from the naval destroyer Sunday in its "operational efficiency test," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

In March, North Korea conducted similar strategic cruise missile tests from the 5,000-ton warship on two occasions ahead of its commissioning, also observed by Kim. Pyongyang's reference to "strategic" weapons suggests that they could have nuclear capabilities.

During the latest test, Kim said, "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," according to the KCNA.

He also called for "bolstering up the powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent steadily and without limit" as the nation's "most important priority task."

Photos published by state media showed Kim overseeing the test from a pier in an unspecified location with military officials.

The cruise missiles flew for 7,869-7,920 seconds and the anti-warship missiles for 1,960-1,973 seconds along the preset flight orbits above the Yellow Sea and hit targets with "ultra-precision hit accuracy," according to the KCNA.

This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un, center, and military officials who observed a test-firing of strategic cruise and anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon, Sunday. Yonhap

The latest test-firing was aimed at checking the launching control line of the warship's integrated weapon command system and confirming the "accuracy and the rate of hits of the improved active anti-jamming navigation system," it said.

Kim laid forth an important task of further strengthening the country's strategic and tactical attack capability, as well as improving and sophisticating the "prompt response posture," the KCNA said without disclosing details.

He was also briefed on a plan for the weapons systems of the destroyers No. 3 and No. 4 that are currently under construction.

South Korea's military said it detected the flight of multiple cruise missiles launched from the Yellow Sea near the North's western coastal city of Nampho on Sunday morning.

"South Korea and the United States are closely monitoring the North's military movements under a robust combined defense posture and maintain the capability and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), raised the possibility of the North disclosing the launch amid heightening tensions between the U.S. and Iran over the control of the Strait of Hormuz.

"It marks the first time that North Korea has disclosed a test-launch of anti-ship missiles from the Choe Hyon," Shin said, adding that it may be the North's attempt to flex its military muscle amid the Iran war.

In April last year, North Korea unveiled the Choe Hyon destroyer in an effort to modernize naval power.

After launching another 5,000-ton destroyer, the Kang Kon, in June 2025, Kim ordered the construction of a third destroyer of the same class by this year's founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Oct. 10.