Kim Jong Un Observes Cruise Missile Test on 'Kang Gun Ho'... Orders Commissioning Within Two Months

Push for Operational Deployment One Year After Grounding Accident
Renewed Commitment to Strengthening Naval Power

North Korea has released footage of weapons system tests conducted on the new 5,000-ton class destroyer "Kang Gun Ho," which had run aground during its commissioning ceremony, highlighting that the ship is on track for normal operational deployment. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, after observing the tests, ordered that the vessel be commissioned within two months.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the testing of key weapon systems, including missiles and naval guns, mounted on the new 5,000-ton class destroyer 'Kanggeonho,' which ran aground during the commissioning ceremony, on the 3rd, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 5th.
Screenshot from the Korean Central News Agency website, Yonhap News Agency

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 5th that Kim Jong Un observed the testing of major weapon systems, including strategic cruise missiles, naval guns, automatic cannons, and electronic warfare equipment, all installed on the Kang Gun Ho on July 3.

The agency explained that the purpose of the tests was to evaluate the combat applicability of the various weapon systems equipped on the destroyer. The performance assessment included checks on target detection, information processing capabilities, and the operation of the integrated firepower system. The tests also involved naval gun firing and the launch of strategic cruise missiles.

Korean Central Television broadcast footage showing the Kang Gun Ho, marked with hull number '52', firing its naval guns and automatic cannons, as well as more than ten missiles being launched in rapid succession. The missiles launched are presumed to be of the Hwasal series cruise missiles, and analysis suggests that North Korea intends to use these as key strike assets for its new destroyers, including the Choe Hyon Ho and Kang Gun Ho.

The footage released by North Korea also revealed that the missiles were painted blue. Military sources pointed out the possibility that this camouflage coloring is intended to enhance low observability.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated, "On July 3, the military detected cruise missiles and other projectiles launched from the Kang Gun Ho into the East Sea, and detailed specifications are currently being precisely analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities."

North Korea also demonstrated the ship's close-in defense capabilities through these tests. Jongwoo Shin, Secretary General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), analyzed that an improved Russian-made AK-630 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and multiple 14.5mm machine guns were installed along the sides of the vessel. He commented, "It appears that North Korea aims to compensate for the ship's vulnerable defensive capabilities by operating a large number of defensive machine guns."

After observing the tests, Kim Jong Un stated, "We have confirmed the potential for our own naval combat system development," and set forth follow-up tasks for the development of surface and underwater combat systems and the strengthening of naval power. He also declared, "We will continue to expand our reliable war deterrence and warfighting capabilities," and announced plans to implement national-level measures to strengthen naval power.

Following the tests, Kim Jong Un ordered the navy to commission the Kang Gun Ho within two months. Experts believe this timeline is intended to coincide with the North Korean regime's founding anniversary on September 9. Hong Min, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, pointed to the possibility of a commissioning ceremony on September 9, while Jihoon Yoo, Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), analyzed that the tests were intended to demonstrate to both domestic and international audiences that the destroyer has entered normal operational service following the grounding incident.

The Kang Gun Ho experienced a grounding accident when its hull tilted during its commissioning ceremony in May last year. The vessel was relaunched about 22 days later, but questions regarding its normal operational status persisted. Last month, North Korea also commissioned another new 5,000-ton class destroyer, the Choe Hyon Ho, into its West Sea Fleet, indicating efforts to accelerate the deployment of its new destroyers.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.