Amid US-Iran War, Kim Jong Un Observes Missile Test Launch, Says "Satisfied With Naval Nuclear Armament"

Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, observed a test launch of a strategic surface-to-ship cruise missile at sea and expressed his satisfaction. This demonstration of nuclear force comes as war intensifies between the United States and Israel and Iran.

Kim Jong Un and Choe Hyun Ho Observe Missile Test Launch
(Pyongyang, Korean Central News Agency=Yonhap News) Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, boarded the destroyer Choe Hyun Ho at the Nampo Shipyard on March 3-4 and "understood the marine corps' ship operation training status, as well as the ship’s performance and operational capability assessment test process," the Korean Central News Agency reported on March 5, 2026.

On March 5, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Chairman Kim visited the Nampo Shipyard for two days starting March 3, where he boarded the new 5,000-ton-class destroyer "Choi Hyunho," which is scheduled to be commissioned soon. He inspected the status of training and observed a test launch of a strategic surface-to-ship cruise missile. According to the agency, after touring the site, Chairman Kim stated, "The nuclear armament of our navy is being carried out satisfactorily," and emphasized, "Our navy will possess overwhelming offensive power, and this is purely for defensive purposes." He further expressed satisfaction, saying, "The ship's maneuverability meets operational requirements," and described it as "a new symbol of the nation's maritime defense power." These remarks were also published in Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's newspaper for its citizens.

The Choi Hyunho is North Korea’s first new 5,000-ton-class destroyer, named after the father of Choe Ryonghae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly. The ship was launched on April 25 last year. Chairman Kim emphasized, "Vessels of this class or higher must be built at a rate of two per year during the new five-year plan," and added, "Ensuring the concentration and sustainability of national defense economic power is the fundamental guarantee for carrying out this plan." Additional destroyer construction is expected in the future.

On the following day, March 4, Chairman Kim observed the test launch of a strategic surface-to-ship cruise missile from land. According to photos released by North Korean media, at least four missiles were launched in succession from the Choi Hyunho. While North Korea had previously released footage of cruise missile launches from the Choi Hyunho during its first test launch in April last year, this is the first time they have demonstrated the ability to launch multiple missiles in succession. This development is particularly notable given the outbreak of war in the Middle East following the U.S. and Israeli invasion of Iran, as well as the upcoming start of the "Freedom Shield (FS)" South Korea-U.S. joint drills scheduled for next week.

In relation to this, an official from the Ministry of Unification commented, "This appears to be part of the navy’s nuclear armament and operational capability enhancement presented at the 9th Party Congress," and added, "It seems likely that North Korea will focus on strengthening naval capabilities going forward."

Meanwhile, on March 3, Chairman Kim attended a sniper shooting competition held at the Pyongyang No. 60 Training Base, which is directly under the Capital Defense Corps, on the occasion of "Sniper's Day." North Korean media reported Chairman Kim's remarks that "unerring marksmanship should be the symbol and characteristic of our military's unmatched fighting power," and stated that he provided important guidelines for fostering all-round snipers who are thoroughly versed in indigenous shooting methods and techniques.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.