Kim Jong Un oversees cruise missile launches from prized new North Korean warship

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un observed launches of 2 cruise missiles and 3 anti-ship missiles from his prized caller warship, the 5,000-ton-class destroyer Choe Hyon, authorities media claimed Tuesday. 

The cruise missiles flew for much than two hours and the anti-ship missiles for much than 30 minutes on pre-set trajectories implicit the country’s occidental seas earlier accurately striking their targets connected Sunday, according to North Korea’s authoritative paper Rodong Sinmun. 

One representation released by the Korean Central News Agency showed Kim lasting adjacent to North Korean officials portion watching a projectile alert distant from the ship.  

Kim has hailed the improvement of the Choe Hyon, which was archetypal unveiled successful April 2025, as a large measurement toward expanding the operational scope and preemptive onslaught capabilities of his military.

NORTH KOREA FIRES MISSILES TOWARD SEA AFTER RIDICULING SOUTH'S HOPES FOR BETTER TIES

North Korea launched 2 cruise missiles and 3 anti-ship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon connected Sunday, April 12, 2026, according to North Korean authorities media. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP)

State media assertion the warship is designed to transportation a scope of systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons arsenic good arsenic nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. South Korean officials and experts accidental the vas was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening subject ties, but immoderate experts question whether it’s ready for progressive service, The Associated Press reported. 

After Sunday’s tests, Kim said his authorities remained focused connected the "limitless expansion" of its atomic forces and issued unspecified caller tasks to sharpen the country’s atomic onslaught and rapid-response capabilities. He besides reviewed plans for the weapons systems for his 3rd and 4th destroyers presently being built, Rodong Sinmun claimed. 

NORTH KOREA RELAUNCHES WARSHIP THAT SUFFERED EMBARRASSING FAILURE DURING INITIAL LAUNCH

North Korean person Kim Jong Un observes strategical cruise and anti-warship missiles test-fired from the destroyer Choe Hyon connected Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Reuters)

North Korea unveiled a 2nd destroyer of the aforesaid people successful May past twelvemonth – the Kang Kon -- but it was damaged during a botched motorboat astatine the bluish larboard of Chongjin. It aboriginal was relaunched successful June pursuing repairs. 

State media says a 3rd destroyer nether operation astatine the Nampo shipyard connected the country’s occidental seashore is expected to beryllium completed by the ruling Workers’ Party’s founding day successful October, according to the AP.

Kim Jong Un reportedly observed rocket trial launches successful North Korea connected Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service)

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North Korea besides conducted a bid of tests past week that authorities media said progressive assorted caller weapons systems, including ballistic missiles equipped with cluster-bomb warheads, portion its elder officials issued statements ridiculing South Korean hopes for warmer relations. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.