ADVERTISEMENTThe North Korean leader Kim Jong -un has returned to the recently launched destroyer – the first warship of this type for Pyongyang – to observe a missile launch test, in another public exhibition of the hermit’s push to arm his nuclear weapons navy.
Kim and his daughter, Ju-Ae, publicly unveiled the destroyer of 5,000 tonnes last week, equipped with what Pyongyang said that he was the most powerful weapons systems designed for a naval ship.
During the launching ceremony on Friday at the western port of Nampo, Kim qualified the construction of the “breakthrough” ship in the modernization of the Naval forces of North Korea. The destructive was appointed Choe Hyon, after a north-Korean general fighter, politician and guerrilla warfare of the Korean War.
Experts say that the first destructive in North Korea was probably built with Russian aid. Moscow’s know-how could have come in exchange for thousands of North Korean troops sent to fight on the side of Russia against Ukraine following a 2024 historical defense agreement between the two.
While Pyongyang’s naval forces are lagging behind those of South Korea, the destructive constitutes a serious security threat, as it could strengthen the attack and defense capacities of North Korea.
The State Central Central Press Agency said on Wednesday that Kim watched the tests of the supersonic and strategic cruise missiles of destroyer, anti-aircraft missiles, automatic cannons and electronic rifles in fog earlier this week.
He “appreciated the combination of the powerful striking weapons ship and conventional defenses and set tasks to accelerate the nuclear armament of his navy,” said the report.
During the ship’s launch ceremony, Kim said that the acquisition of a nuclear propulsion submarine would be his next step to strengthen his navy.
Kremlin sharing its military technology?
An analysis of the photos of the warship shows that its anti-aircraft radar system is probably from Russia, said Lee Illwoo, an expert in Korea from the Defense Network in South Korea. He said that the engine vessel of the warship and some of its anti-aircraft weapons systems also came from Russia.
North Korea and Russia have considerably widened soldiers and other cooperation in recent years, Pyongyang providing troops and conventional weapons to support Russia ‘war efforts against Ukraine.
The United States, South Korea and its partners all share concerns that Moscow will in turn provide Pyongyang for high-tech weapons technologies which can improve its nuclear program, as well as the expedition of another military and economic assistance.
In March, Pyongyang unveiled a nuclear submarine under construction. Many civilian experts said at the time that North Korea may have received Russian technological assistance to build a nuclear reactor to be used in a submarine.
The South Korea espionage agency has also said that North Korea could probably not deploy a nuclear submarine soon without Russian support.
Lee said that the deployment of a warship with an advanced radar system off the west coast of North Korea could strongly strengthen its air defense capacities for Pyongyang.
South Korea, which has 12 destroyers, still largely exceeds the naval forces of North Korea. However, the Choe Hyon, which can transport around 80 missiles, can still constitute a significant threat, because the South Korea Navy has probably not prepared for such an enemy warship.
Additional sources • AP
