N. Korea test-fires new warship’s weapons system
SEOUL—North Korea earlier this week conducted the first test-firing of the weapons system of the new “Choe Hyon-class” warship it recently unveiled, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday.
Cruise and antiair missiles were launched and artillery fired as part of the test-firing attended by leader Kim Jong Un and senior officials, the report said.
The time has come for North Korea’s navy to choose to accelerate nuclear armament for maritime sovereignty and for the sake of national defense, Kim was quoted as saying.
The intelligence agencies of South Korea and the United States were closely monitoring North Korea’s shipbuilding activities, an official at Seoul’s defense ministry said.
More work might be needed before the new naval destroyer could take to the sea under its own propulsion, said 38 North, a think tank focusing on North Korea, noting a satellite image of tug boats nudging the ship back towards a floating drydock.
“The use of tugboats to move the ship into place and back again could indicate the lack of a functioning propulsion system,” the think tank said.
‘Most powerful weapons’
North Korean state media on Saturday revealed the 5,000-ton warship that it said was equipped with the “most powerful weapons.”
Kim, in a speech from the launch reported by KCNA, said the warship would be handed over to the navy and go into service early next year.
The “Choe Hyon-class” ship was named after anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter Choe Hyon, according to KCNA.
Russian help
Outside experts say it’s North Korea’s first destroyer and that it was likely built with Russian assistance.
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 defense capabilities.
Kim appreciated the ship’s combination of powerful strike weapons and conventional defenses and set tasks to speed the nuclear-arming of his navy, the KCNA report said.
During the ship’s launching ceremony, Kim said the destroyer will 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 beef up North Korea’s deterrence capability to cope with what he called escalating US-led hostilities targeting the North.
