Kim Jong-un Oversees Missile Tests From Destroyer, Vows 'Unlimited' Nuclear Deterrent

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-tonne 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 key 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.

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.

South Korea's unification ministry said the latest missile test seems to be part of North Korea's move to implement a five-year defense plan unveiled at a key party congress in February.

"It appears to be a final check of the weapons system if the test took place before the delivery of the Choe Hyon to the Navy," a ministry official told reporters.

Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defence and Security Forum (KODEF), raised the possibility of the North disclosing the launch amid heightening tensions between the US and Iran over the control of the Strait of Hormuz, Yonhap news agency reported.

"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 modernise naval power.

After launching another 5,000-tonne 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 October 10.

- IANS