North Korea Unleashes Firepower in First Test of Choe Hyon-Class Destroyer

According to state media KCNA, On Wednesday North Korea conducted its first test-firing of the recently displayed “Choe Hyon-class” warship with the firing of cruise missiles, anti-air missiles and artillery fire from the 5,000-tonne ship under the order of leader Kim Jong Un and senior officials.

Kim called the development as a key step toward enhancing North Korea’s naval force and nuclear power. “We found a time to accelerate nuclear armament by our navy for national defense and maritime sovereignty,’ said Kim, through KCNA

It comes after North Korea showed the warship to the public on Saturday. It was named after anti-Japanese revolutionary Choe Hyon and state media quoted North Korea’s administration as saying that it has the ‘most powerful weapons.’ Kim said the ship would be delivered to the navy and commissioned sometime in early 2026.

Although there has been a demonstration of strength, experts have raised possible technical problems. American and South Korean intelligence agencies are keeping a sharp eye on North Korea’s expanding naval ambitions. A report from the North Korea-monitoring think tank 38 North remarked on satellite images showing tugboat assistance on the vessel which means the warship might not have a working propulsion capability.

The report said that the use of tugboats to move the ship into position and back out again could indicate a non-functional propulsion system, raising issues about operational readiness for the warship.