Seoul, July 5 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen tests of strategic cruise missiles and other weapons from a new 5,000-tonne naval destroyer, ordering the warship to be commissioned into the Navy within two months, state media reported Sunday.
Kim observed tests of cruise missiles, naval artillery, automatic guns, and electronic warfare means from the destroyer Kang Kon on Friday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
In June last year, North Korea launched the destroyer, about one month after it had tipped over during its initial launch attempt, Yonhap news agency reported.
The South Korean military said Sunday it detected the North’s firing of cruise weapons from the warship toward the East Sea on Friday, and Seoul and Washington are analysing the specifics.
Footage taken from various angles, released by North Korea’s state-run TV, showed some 10 cruise missiles soaring into the sky in succession.
The KCNA reported the latest weapons tests were part of efforts to examine and confirm the ability to “apply various kinds of weapon systems on board the destroyer in combat”.
The North’s leader called for further speeding up efforts to expand the country’s war deterrent and capability to fight a war.
“He affirmed that we will demonstrate through more obvious actions our political will and determination to have an absolute power,” the KCNA reported.
“He gave an instruction to complete the trial process of the destroyer in a responsible manner and commission it for the Navy within two months.”
Kim also convened an important consultative meeting for the development of the warship building industry, the KCNA said, without disclosing details.
Experts said the missiles recently launched appear to be the Hwasal-series cruise missiles, and North Korea seems to aim to deploy such missiles on its new destroyers. Pyongyang’s reference to “strategic” weapons suggests that it could have nuclear capabilities.
Last month, North Korea commissioned its 5,000-tonne destroyer, named the Choe Hyon, announcing that it will perform the “honourable mission” of defending the West Sea and deterring war.
“North Korea appears to be accelerating the commissioning of the Kang Kon in a bid to advance the deployment of assets with maritime nuclear capabilities — the Choe Hyon in the West Sea and the Kang Kon in the East Sea,” Shin Jong-woo, Secretary-General of the Korea Defence and Security Forum, said.
Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said the North may seek to commission the Kang Kon on the occasion of the 78th founding anniversary of the government on September 9.
–IANS
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