N. Korea commissions destroyer Choe Hyon Ho; Kim Jong-un cites 'reliable nuclear war deterrence'

North Korea has formally commissioned its new 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon Ho. Leader Kim Jong-un said the event marked "a very important strategic process that will more clearly demonstrate our powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrence, realize the multifaceted and effective operation of our state nuclear forces, and allow us to firmly seize the initiative in military activities for maritime defense and war deterrence."

KCNA announced Wednesday that the Choe Hyon Ho — described as "a new symbol of the state's maritime defense capability" — had successfully completed a 14-month operational performance evaluation and was formally commissioned into the Korean People's Army Navy.

The commissioning ceremony was held at Nampo port on Tuesday. In a congratulatory address, Kim said North Korea had "obtained satisfying results confirming that our vessel possesses the most perfect combined operational combat capability" through the entire process of building and testing the country's first destroyer in its naval and military history. "We can proudly declare that the destroyer Choe Hyon Ho is a reliable warship capable of faithfully carrying out operational missions in any waters," he said.

He added that "the combat power of our navy will become something of astonishing wonder that surpasses imagination," and called the commissioning ceremony "an event by which one can measure the pace at which our navy is transforming."

Kim also said the party's 9th Central Committee held its 2nd Plenary Session on Tuesday and decided to construct new bases for naval fleets. "The most important transformation and the most meaningful development is that the status and mission of our navy, the scope of its operational waters and its results have changed," he said — a remark interpreted as signaling an expansion of operational range beyond the West Sea.

Kim went on to announce that North Korea would "soon deploy the Kang Gon Ho into operations following the Choe Hyon Ho, and then consecutively launch 10,000-ton-class strategic vessels into the sea."

He said North Korea, as "a party that deploys its most sensitive strategic assets in the most important waters, will demonstrate a principled and responsible will — and make newer and greater contributions — in safeguarding the sovereignty of the republic, the security environment of Northeast Asia, and world peace."

On future plans, Kim said North Korea "must possess superior combat vessels like the Choe Hyon Ho not just as a symbolic few, but as many as we need." He said the country must, during the new five-year plan period, build two surface warships of the Choe Hyon Ho class or above — including 10,000-ton cruisers — every year, while faithfully executing all plans related to naval force development, including the construction of frigates and special-purpose vessels and the development and production of underwater weapons systems.

At the ceremony, Party Secretary Jo Chun Ryong reported to Kim that the Choe Hyon Ho had completed evaluations of its weapons performance, combat applicability and overall operational capability, and had successfully finished test firings, integrated operations tests, comprehensive maneuverability assessment voyages and military inspection certification, KCNA said.