Has North Korea’s Kim Unveiled Plans for More Destroyers?

Seoul, June 13 (NationPress) North Korea announced on Friday the successful launch of a 5,000-ton destroyer that had been damaged during its initial launch attempt in May. The leader, Kim Jong-un, was present at the launch ceremony where he revealed plans to construct two additional destroyers in the coming year.

The ceremony took place at the Rajin shipyard the day before and was reported by Yonhap news agency, citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The vessel, named Kang Kon, honors North Korea's first chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, who lost his life during the Korean War.

"In approximately two weeks, the ship was uprighted and launched successfully, achieving its restoration as scheduled," Kim was quoted as saying during the ceremony.

He condemned the mishap during the initial launch attempt as an “intolerable” criminal incident that damaged the nation’s dignity.

In late May, the destroyer tipped and partially submerged during its launch in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. Kim attributed the incident to “absolute carelessness” and instructed that the ship be restored before a significant party meeting set for late June.

Following the incident, the ship was moved from Chongjin to the Rajin shipyard, which has a dry dock designated for repairs.

Kim also announced the approval of a plan by the Central Military Commission to construct two more 5,000-ton-class destroyers next year.

The North Korean leader cited perceived threats from the United States and other adversarial nations as justification for the destroyer construction, warning of “corresponding” military responses and “absolute military actions,” effectively dismissing recent dialogue overtures from Washington.

"The provocative intentions of the US military and its allied nations have become increasingly clear, and the threat level to our security has surpassed a dangerous threshold," Kim remarked.

His statements followed reports that US President Donald Trump attempted to send a letter to Kim through North Korean diplomats in New York, who rejected it.

The South Korean unification ministry noted that Kim refrained from making hostile remarks toward Seoul during his speech about military threats, indicating North Korea might be exercising caution in its inter-Korean relations following the establishment of the Lee Jae-myung administration.

Departing from his predecessor’s strict approach, Lee has committed to reducing tensions and pursuing dialogue with Pyongyang, including halting military broadcasts and urging activists to cease leaflet campaigns since taking office.

"It’s noteworthy that there were no comments regarding South Korea while Chairman Kim discussed military tensions, unlike the launch of the destroyer Choe Hyon on April 25," stated Chang Yoon-jeong, a unification deputy spokesperson, at a press briefing.

During the April launch ceremony, North Korea accused both South Korea and the US of escalating security tensions, mentioning them multiple times; however, no such comments were made this time.

The ministry interpreted this change as an attempt by North Korea to carefully manage its messaging toward South Korea in light of the evolving situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Chang added that the latest launch ceremony seemed aimed at showcasing the vessel's timely restoration as directed by Kim, salvaging face after the accidental damage.

The ministry also emphasized the necessity of confirming whether the restored destroyer is fully operational, even though its appearance shows no obvious defects.

They will monitor for any live-fire drills involving the new vessel to demonstrate its capabilities, referencing a similar drill conducted with the destroyer Choe Hyon shortly after its launch.

During his address, Kim expressed condolences for the death of a dockyard manager following the initial failed launch attempt and promised to honor him as a patriotic victim.