North Korea Relaunches 5,000-Ton Destroyer, Plans Two More Amid US Tensions

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the relaunch of the Kang Kon, a 5,000-ton destroyer that partially sank during its initial launch last month, emphasizing that the restoration was completed on schedule and had not delayed the country’s naval expansion plans. Kim condemned the initial launch failure as a "criminal act" and oversaw punitive actions against officials responsible. He announced plans to build two additional 5,000-ton destroyers next year as part of a broader effort to modernize North Korea's naval fleet and extend its operational reach into the Pacific Ocean. Kim framed the naval buildup as a direct response to escalating provocations and military threats from the United States and its allies, warning that adversaries would soon confront North Korea's enhanced maritime presence. The relaunch and future construction underscore Pyongyang's strategy to strengthen its regional military posture amid heightened tensions. South Korean analysts and regional security experts view these developments as part of North Korea’s significant naval modernization and its intent to challenge US and allied influence in the Pacific.