North Korea is putting into service its second nuclear-capable guided-missile destroyer this year

On Monday, North Korean state media announced the official commissioning of the Kang Kon guided-missile destroyer. This is the second unit of this class to join the fleet of Kim Jong Un's regime this year. The ship, with a displacement of 5,000 tons, was designed to carry nuclear weapons and is to play a key role in the so-called "nuclear response system".

According to the official KCNA agency, "Kang Kon" is intended to be a response to the growing tensions in the Sea of ​​​​Japan and to act as a deterrent against potential opponents. In the event of a conflict, the ship is to be capable of delivering a "decimating retaliatory strike."

Kim Jong Un: I will prove it to the world

During the ceremony in Wonsan, which took place on the eve of the 78th anniversary of the founding of North Korea, Kim Jong Un was proud of the new achievement. The leader of the regime emphasized that the nuclearization of the navy would enable "diversification of the use of deterrence forces" and announced the continuation of the expansion of the fleet.

If the enemies try to use military force against us, I will give you an order to use the absolute force that will be the most lethal to the enemy, Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA news agency.

Kim also announced that in a few months the world will see North Korea's further military progress.

We are currently implementing an important plan to strengthen our naval forces. I will prove it to the world again in eight months, he said, without revealing details.

According to the South Korean Yonhap agency, these announcements may concern work on nuclear-powered submarines.

Ambitious plans and difficult beginnings

At the beginning of the year, the Kim regime announced plans to build two large warships with a displacement of over 5,000 tons, including units weighing up to 10,000 tons. The new destroyer Kang Kon is the sister ship of Choe Hyon, which entered service just three months earlier.

The construction of "Kang Kon" was not without problems - in May last year the ship capsized during a launching attempt. After repairs, strategic cruise missiles were launched from its deck in July.

Symbolic gestures and political tensions

The ceremony in Wonsan also had a symbolic dimension. The presence of Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter, Dzu Ae, was widely exposed by the North Korean media. According to South Korean intelligence, young Dzu Ae may be groomed as the dictator's future successor.

The event coincided with the start of joint U.S., South Korean and Japanese military exercises, which Pyongyang routinely criticizes as preparations for war.