The official [North] Korean Central News Agency said the destroyer Kang Kon conducted a test-fire of "strategic cruise missiles" last Friday, along with tests of "major weapon systems such as naval artillery, automatic machine guns and electronic warfare means."
KCNA said the tests were intended to assess the combat systems mounted on the warship and to confirm "the ability to apply various kinds of weapon systems on board the destroyer in combat."
South Korea's military said the same day it had detected North Korea firing a cruise missile from the warship toward waters off its eastern coast and that South Korean and U.S. authorities were analyzing the launch.
Before the tests, Kim received detailed briefings from members of a weapons assessment group on what KCNA described as a "stepwise plan" to examine the performance of the ship's weapons systems. The tests included inspections of the destroyer's "target-detecting and information-processing capability" and its "combined firepower system," the report said.
KCNA said Kim praised the progress of the tests, saying the "combat power and creditability" of the destroyer's anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft weapons, as well as its "strategic offensive weapon systems," were being verified "in a responsible manner."
Kim said the tests gave North Korea confidence in the "development of naval combat system of our own style," according to KCNA. He said the progress created "a great possibility to bring about a change in the readiness posture" of the country's strategic forces.
The North Korean leader also called for speeding up efforts to expand the country's military capabilities, saying it was necessary to "further speed up the projects to maintain and steadily expand the reliable war deterrent and capability to fight a war."
KCNA quoted Kim as saying North Korea would demonstrate "through more obvious actions" its political will and determination to possess an "absolute power."
Kim also ordered officials to complete the Kang Kon's trial process "in a responsible manner" and commission the destroyer into the navy within two months, KCNA said.
The Kang Kon drew outside attention last year after it was damaged during a botched launch ceremony at the northern port of Chongjin, an embarrassment that prompted an unusually angry response from Kim. North Korea later said the ship had been repaired and relaunched, though outside analysts questioned how quickly the vessel could be made ready for active service.
The destroyer is part of a new class of North Korean warships that Kim has portrayed as central to his effort to modernize the navy. Late last month, North Korea commissioned another 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon, in a ceremony state media cast as a milestone in strengthening the navy's ability to defend maritime sovereignty and deter war.
KCNA said Kim recalled that a recent plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party had adopted a decision to turn each naval fleet base into “a hub of naval command, culture and combat capability” and to expand shipyard capacity at all levels.
He also expressed what KCNA called his determination to take "national steps" to build up the navy, which he said plays an important role in defending North Korea's maritime sovereignty and exercising war deterrence.
North Korea has increasingly emphasized naval development after years of focusing heavily on ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. Kim has called for building two 5,000-ton-class warships each year over the next five years and has also outlined plans for larger 10,000-ton destroyers.
The North describes some of its cruise missiles as "strategic," a term it often uses for weapons designed to carry nuclear warheads. Experts say deploying such weapons on surface ships could give North Korea more launch options and complicate missile-defense planning by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
KCNA said senior defense, navy and shipbuilding officials attended Friday's tests, including Jo Chun-ryong, a secretary of the Workers' Party Central Committee; Kim Jong-sik, first deputy department director of the party Central Committee; Pak Jong-chon, an adviser to the Ministry of National Defence; Pak Kwang-sop, commander of the navy; Kim Yong-hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences; and Kim Kwang-il, minister of shipbuilding industry.
It also said Kim convened "an important consultative meeting for the development of the warship building industry" but gave no details.
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