North Korea Unveils New Destroyer Amid Rising Tensions

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, unveiled a new 5,000-tonne multipurpose destroyer at a launching ceremony in Nampho. The warship is equipped with advanced weapons systems, including anti-air, anti-naval, and nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles, and is claimed by North Korean officials to have been built within 400 days using domestic technology. The destroyer is positioned by Kim as a response to increased joint military exercises by the United States and its allies, and is seen as the first in a new class intended to expand North Korea's operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities. Kim also condemned US-South Korea drills as war preparations. The launch comes as North Korea is reportedly constructing a submarine capable of carrying multiple nuclear missiles, escalating regional tensions. However, experts express skepticism about North Korea's ability to independently develop such advanced military assets due to ongoing economic and technological challenges.