North Korea said on Wednesday that leader Kim Jong-un had observed the first test-firings of missiles from a recently launched destroyer – its first such warship – and called for accelerating efforts to boost his navy’s nuclear attack capabilities.
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North Korea last week unveiled the 5,000-tonne destroyer equipped with what it called the most powerful weapons built in its warship industry. During Friday’s launching ceremony at the western port of Nampo, Kim called the ship’s construction “a breakthrough” in modernising North Korea’s naval forces.
Outsider experts say it is North Korea’s first destroyer and that it was likely built with Russian help. They say North Korea’s naval forces lag behind South Korea’s but still view the destroyer as a serious security threat as it could bolster North Korea’s attack and defence capabilities.
The official Korean Central News Agency said on Wednesday that Kim watched the tests of the destroyer’s supersonic and strategic cruise missiles, anti-aircraft missile, automatic guns and electronic jamming systems earlier this week.
He appreciated the ship’s combination of powerful strike weapons and conventional defences and set tasks to speed up the nuclear-arming of his navy, the report said.
During the ship’s launching ceremony, Kim said the destroyer would be deployed early next year. He said the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine would be his next big step in strengthening his navy. He underscored the need to strengthen North Korea’s deterrence capability to cope with what he called escalating US-led hostilities targeting the East Asian nation.
An analysis of photos of the warship shows that its anti-air radar system is likely from Russia, said Lee Illwoo from the Korea Defence Network in South Korea. He said the warship’s engine system and some of its anti-air weapons systems also likely came from Russia.