North Korea’s Kim Jong Un says new destroyer will be part of nuclear response system

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that the country's newest warship, a 5,000-tonne-class destroyer named the 'Kang Kon', will be integrated into the nation's nuclear response system. According to state media reports on Monday, Kim stated that the vessel is capable of delivering annihilating retaliatory strikes, though reports noted it was not specified whether the ship will directly carry nuclear weapons.

The 'Kang Kon' is the second warship of its class to enter service for North Korea, following the prior commissioning of the 'Choe Hyon' destroyer. The integration of the new destroyer into the nuclear response framework highlights Pyongyang's ongoing efforts to expand and modernize its naval and strategic military capabilities.