Kim Jong Un inspects North Korea's first nuclear-capable warship
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 8
Kim Jong Un inspects North Korea's first nuclear-capable warship
9 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 8
State media said the Choe Hyon sailed off North Korea's west coast and will be deployed in June carrying nuclear-tipped missiles.
The destroyer is central to Pyongyang's push for a sea-based nuclear strike option that could complicate US and South Korean surveillance and pre-emptive attack plans.
Analysts say the programme may reflect Russian help; North Korea launched the ship last April, restored a second vessel after a capsized launch and plans two destroyers annually.
How is Russian technology transforming North Korea's navy into a credible sea-based nuclear threat?
As Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal goes to sea, what new rules of engagement must regional powers now consider?
North Korea’s 5,000-Ton *Choe Hyon* Destroyer and Nuclear-Capable Missile Tests Signal Major Naval Expansion by 2031
Overview
In early May 2026, Kim Jong Un personally inspected the new nuclear-capable destroyer Choe Hyon following its successful missile tests in April, which demonstrated its ability to launch strategic cruise and anti-ship missiles. He ordered the ship's formal handover to the navy by mid-June and directed the construction of two such destroyers annually through 2031, signaling a major naval expansion. This build-up responds to perceived threats from U.S.-South Korea joint exercises and growing trilateral cooperation with Japan, which is enhancing its own naval capabilities. Despite setbacks like the capsizing of the Kang Kon destroyer and infrastructure challenges, North Korea is rapidly advancing its blue-water navy to strengthen its nuclear deterrence and regional power projection.