North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the unveiling of a new destroyer on the country's western coast, April 25, 2025, in this image from the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA)
North Korea launched two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles Sunday in an operational test of its destroyer Choe Hyon, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday.
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch alongside other senior officials, according to the report.
Choe Hyon is a newly unveiled, 5,000-ton class destroyer successfully launched in June after the vessel capsized during its first launch attempt in May.
Kim was also briefed on the weapon systems plan for destroyers Nos. 3 and 4, which are under construction, KCNA reported.
The missile tests aimed to assess strike accuracy and the performance of an improved, active anti-jamming navigation system as well as the launching control line of the ship’s integrated weapon command system, according to the report.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said it detected several cruise missiles over the Yellow Sea — known on the peninsula as the West Sea — near Nampo, North Korea, in a message Tuesday to Stars and Stripes.
South Korean and the U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing the launch details, according to the ministry.
The strategic cruise missiles flew for about 2 hours and 11 minutes while the anti-warship missiles flew for about 32 minutes, according to the state-run media.
KCNA reported that Kim stressed the importance of “steadily and unlimitedly bolster up the powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent.”
North Korea has conducted a series of missile test in recent months, including April 7-8 and March 14.
