North Korea has conducted cruise missile and anti-ship missile tests from the destroyer Choe Hyon within the framework of combat capability assessment.
According to KCNA news agency on April 14, the test took place under the supervision of North Korean President Kim Jong Un, along with defense officials and senior naval commanders on April 12. The operation was aimed at checking the operational efficiency of the integrated weapon system on warships.
2 strategic cruise missiles and 3 anti-ship missiles have been launched to assess the firing process, train the operating crew as well as verify the accuracy and anti-interference capability of the upgraded guidance system.
Cruise missiles fly in a range of 7.869 to 7.920 seconds, while anti-ship missiles fly in a range of 1.960 to 1.973 seconds over North Korea's western sea, before hitting targets with very high accuracy.
Chairman Kim Jong Un was also briefed on plans to develop weapon systems for two new destroyers being built. The North Korean leader emphasized that strengthening nuclear deterrence capabilities remains a top priority.
He called for further improvement of strategic and tactical offensive capabilities, while raising the rapid response readiness of the armed forces.
The Choe Hyon-class destroyer, with a displacement of about 5,000 tons, has been used by North Korea to test weapons since 2025. Chairman Kim Jong Un also directly supervised a missile launch from this ship before.
The latest missile test shows that Pyongyang continues to focus on developing its maritime military capabilities, as the country accelerates the modernization of its weapons system.
