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North Korea commissions second nuclear-capable destroyer
North Korea has put another destroyer into service as Kim Jong Un seeks a nuclear-armed navy.
What happened
Kim Jong Un commissioned the Kang Kon in Wonsan, making it North Korea’s second new destroyer in service. He said it would form part of the country’s nuclear response system and called for a nuclear-armed navy. The ceremony coincided with a US-South Korea-Japan military exercise.
Numbers
- 5,000 tonnesKang Kon’s stated displacement
- 2 destroyersNew vessels now commissioned
- 5 daysLength of allied exercise — Scheduled to end Friday
Questions
- Which fleet received the ship?
- Kang Kon joined the East Sea Fleet; its predecessor, Choe Hyon, was assigned to the West Sea Fleet.
- Why is Kim expanding the navy?
- Kim linked the programme to maritime defence and war deterrence, saying North Korea needed systems usable in an actual war.
- What ended earlier diplomacy?
- Diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang collapsed over disputes about denuclearisation steps and sanctions relief, and no talks are described.
- Where is the allied exercise?
- The exercise is scheduled to continue through Friday in international waters east and south of Jeju, according to the coverage.
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Support and opposition
Who supports this, and why
North Korean leadership — A nuclear-armed navy is needed to deter adversaries and defend national sovereignty at sea and underwater.
Who opposes this, and why
US and allies — The naval expansion deepens the threat their joint exercise is designed to deter and respond to.
The catch
State media did not say whether Kang Kon carries nuclear weapons, and independent journalists were not given access to the ceremony.