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, nan 5,000-ton-class destroyer Choe Hyon, authorities media claimed Tuesday. 

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

One image released by nan Korean Central News Agency showed Kim opinionated adjacent to North Korean officials while watching a projectile alert distant from nan ship.  

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

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

State media declare nan 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 opportunity nan alloy was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening subject ties, but immoderate experts mobility whether it’s ready for progressive service, The Associated Press reported. 

After Sunday’s tests, Kim said his authorities remained focused connected nan "limitless description " of its atomic forces and issued unspecified caller tasks to sharpen nan country’s atomic onslaught and rapid-response capabilities. He besides reviewed plans for nan 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 leader Kim Jong Un observes strategical cruise and anti-warship missiles test-fired from nan destroyer Choe Hyon connected Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Reuters)

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

State media says a 3rd destroyer nether building astatine nan Nampo shipyard connected nan country’s occidental seashore is expected to beryllium completed by nan ruling Workers’ Party’s founding day successful October, according to nan 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 various caller weapons systems, including ballistic missiles equipped pinch cluster-bomb warheads, while its elder officials issued statements ridiculing South Korean hopes for warmer relations. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.