Kim Jong Un Accelerates North Korea's Naval Expansion With New Warships
WHO:
Fox News - Kim Jong Un is the leader of North Korea.
ABC News - North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the naval developments.
WHAT:
ABC News - Kim Jong Un stated that the Choe Hyon will be tasked with defending North Korea’s western coast and that the nuclear armament of his navy is progressing as planned.
NBC News - Kim Jong Un claimed that North Korea has entered a new era of naval power that will project its nuclear capabilities.
CNN - Kim announced that the Kang Kon destroyer will also be entering service "soon."
ABC News - North Korea plans to build a larger, 10,000-ton destroyer.
ABC News - Kim Jong Un stated that the Choe Hyon will be tasked with defending North Korea’s western coast.
ABC News - Kim claimed that the Choe Hyon represents a major step toward expanding North Korea's military operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities.
ABC News - Kim announced that the Kang Kon will begin sea trials soon.
NBC News - Kim Jong Un stated that North Korea has entered a new era of naval power that will project its nuclear capabilities.
CNN - Kim Jong Un stated that the introduction of the Choe Hyon represents a new chapter in North Korea's military history, declaring that the navy has "put an end to over 70 years of its stagnation."
ABC News - Kim claimed that the combat capability of the navy will "grow to be admirable beyond imagination."
ABC News - Kim announced that the Kang Kon will also be entering service "soon."
CNN - Kim called for North Korean shipyards to produce two new surface ships a year, including cruisers double the size of the Choe Hyon.
Fox News - Kim Jong Un called for the construction of two large warships annually over five years.
ABC News - North Korea commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer named Choe Hyon, which is touted as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities.
ABC News - The Choe Hyon is equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
ABC News - Kim stated that the Kang Kon destroyer will also be entering service soon.
ABC News - North Korea plans to build a larger, 10,000-ton destroyer.
WHERE:
ABC News - The commissioning ceremony for the Choe Hyon took place at the western port of Nampo, North Korea.
ABC News - The Kang Kon was relaunched at the northern port of Chongjin.
WHEN:
ABC News - The Choe Hyon was formally placed into service after a commissioning ceremony on a Tuesday.
ABC News - The Choe Hyon was unveiled in April 2025.
ABC News - The Kang Kon was damaged during a botched launch in May 2025 and was relaunched in June 2025.
WHY:
ABC News - Kim stated that arming the navy with nuclear weapons would represent a radical change in defending North Korea's maritime sovereignty.
ABC News - Kim stated that arming the navy with nuclear weapons would "constitute a radical change in defending our maritime sovereignty, something that we have not achieved for half a century."
ABC News - Kim Jong Un aims to expand North Korea's naval forces and capabilities as part of a shift in focus from ballistic missile development to naval capabilities.
ABC News - Kim stated that arming the navy with nuclear weapons would represent a radical change in defending North Korea's maritime sovereignty.
HOW:
CNN - Analysts noted that the speed and intended scale of Kim Jong Un's naval buildup suggest North Korea may be receiving significant material and technological assistance from Russia.
CNN - Kim alluded to difficulties in the naval buildup, stating that it "is never plain sailing."
CNN - Analysts noted that the speed and intended scale of Kim Jong Un's naval buildup suggest North Korea may be receiving significant material and technological assistance from Russia.
ABC News - North Korea has conducted a series of tests for the Choe Hyon, including launches of nuclear-capable cruise missiles from the vessel.
ABC News - Analysts suggest that the Choe Hyon was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia.
(UPDATED June 24, 2026 17:39 UTC)
Kim Jong Un announced that North Korea is entering a new era of naval power, with plans to arm its navy with nuclear weapons to enhance the defense of its western coast. He revealed that the Kang Kon destroyer will be entering service soon and that the country aims to build a larger, 10,000-ton destroyer. Analysts suggest that the rapid expansion of North Korea's naval capabilities may indicate substantial material and technological support from Russia.
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 15:50 UTC)
Kim Jong Un has announced that the Choe Hyon will be responsible for defending North Korea's western coast, marking a significant step in expanding the country's military operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities. He also revealed that the Kang Kon will soon begin sea trials, emphasizing that North Korea has entered a new era of naval power to project its nuclear capabilities. However, Kim acknowledged the challenges in the naval buildup, stating that it "is never plain sailing."
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 08:10 UTC)
Kim Jong Un has announced that the introduction of the Choe Hyon marks a new chapter in North Korea's military history, claiming the navy has ended over 70 years of stagnation and will soon see the Kang Kon enter service. He emphasized the ambition to enhance naval combat capabilities, stating that arming the navy with nuclear weapons would represent a radical change in defending maritime sovereignty, a goal not achieved for half a century. Analysts suggest that the rapid expansion of North Korea's naval forces indicates possible significant material and technological support from Russia.
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(UPDATED June 24, 2026 04:25 UTC)
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has announced plans to construct two large warships annually over the next five years, as reported by the country's official Korean Central News Agency. Recently, North Korea commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer named Choe Hyon, which is equipped with advanced weaponry, including nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles, and aims to bolster the nation’s naval capabilities. The commissioning ceremony for the Choe Hyon took place at the western port of Nampo, while Kim also noted that the Kang Kon destroyer will soon enter service, reflecting a strategic shift towards enhancing naval forces.