North Korea commissions second destroyer as Kim urges stronger nuclear deterrent

Kim Jong Un commissioned North Korea's second destroyer as regional drills began nearby. The move sharpens tensions with Washington and its allies while signalling a bigger naval nuclear push.

In Short

• Kim attended the Wonsan ceremony with his teenage daughter, seen as heir
• The 5,000-ton warships can reportedly carry conventional and nuclear weapons
• Experts believe the vessels were likely built with Russian technical assistance

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has commissioned the country’s second naval destroyer and called for a more reliable nuclear deterrent, according to state media. The move came as the United States, South Korea and Japan began a trilateral military exercise that Pyongyang sees as a security threat.

The commissioning also comes at a time when North Korea is increasing pressure on the US after rejecting President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back a major military drill with South Korea as a conciliatory step towards Kim. Observers say North Korea is seeking bigger concessions from Washington.

The destroyer Kang Kon was commissioned into North Korea’s navy on Sunday at a ceremony in the eastern port city of Wonsan attended by Kim and his teenage daughter, whom South Korea’s spy service has described as his likely heir. State media photographs showed the girl in a white dress and blazer walking with her father on a red carpet, touring the warship and posing with sailors.

The Kang Kon and the Choe Hyon, which entered service in June, are both 5,000-ton destroyers that North Korean state media said can carry various conventional and nuclear weapons. They are seen as North Korea’s biggest and most advanced warships, and experts say they were likely built with Russian assistance. In July, North Korea said it test-fired nuclear-capable cruise missiles from the Kang Kon.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kim said the addition of the two warships had instilled fear in North Korea’s enemies, as the nuclear armament of the navy made it possible to use its deterrent in a more varied and practical way. “Concerns of the enemies will be surely deepened,” Kim said. “We must establish more clearly a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent, to put into practice the diverse and effective operation of our nuclear combat systems and further strengthen our military activities for maritime defence and war deterrence.”

After years of focusing on ballistic missile development, Kim has increasingly turned to modernising the navy, which he acknowledged in Sunday’s speech did not have warships fit for its mission until a few years ago. Outside experts said the destroyers’ weapons and radar systems would improve North Korea’s offensive and defensive capabilities. Kim also said North Korea was pursuing another “significant” naval advance that would be unveiled in eight months. Many observers say it could be linked to his stated goal of acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine.

On Monday, the US, South Korea and Japan began their five-day Freedom Edge exercise in waters off South Korea’s southern Jeju island. South Korea’s military said the drill was defensive in nature and meant to improve joint response capabilities against North Korean nuclear threats, adding that it involved key maritime and aerial assets from the three countries. Last week, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the US of showing its confrontational posture more clearly, citing the Freedom Edge drill and reported comments by US officials that Washington remained committed to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea.

On August 21, the US and South Korean militaries ended their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise six days earlier than originally planned after Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the drill. Trump referred to what he described as a good relationship with Kim, who sees the exercise as a rehearsal for invasion. But Kim’s sister and senior official Kim Yo Jong dismissed Trump’s outreach, saying that merely shortening the exercise would not change its “provocative, aggressive nature”. North Korea then launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea, apparently carrying out its earlier threat to respond to the US-South Korean drill.

Kim has previously said he could return to talks if the US ends what he calls its “hostile policy” towards North Korea and recognises its status as a nuclear state. His earlier diplomacy with Trump collapsed in 2019 over differences on how much economic benefit North Korea should receive in return for a limited denuclearisation step. The latest destroyer launch and the military drill off South Korea underline the continuing tensions between Pyongyang and the US and its allies.

With PTI Inputs

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