North Korea's No. 2 Nuclear-Armed Destroyer 'Kang Kon' Deployed to East Sea... Kim Jong Un Family Attends

[Financial News] North Korea’s second nuclear-armed 5,000-ton multi-purpose destroyer, the 'Kang Kon,' has been deployed to the East Sea. This comes just three months after the first destroyer of the same class, the Choi Hyun-ho, was deployed to the West Sea. North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un was joined by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, a leading successor, and his wife Ri Sol-ju at the commissioning ceremony of the Kang Kon.
According to North Korea's Rodong Sinmun on the 7th, Chairman Kim held a commissioning ceremony for the Kang Kon, the second ship of the Choehyun-class destroyer, at Wonsan Port on the 6th.
Chairman Kim argued that deploying new nuclear-armed destroyers to the East Sea Fleet is of great significance. He stated, "The nuclear armament of our navy is being realized, making it more suitable, diversified, and practical for the use of deterrence," adding, "We must put into practice the multifaceted and effective operation of nuclear combat systems and make military activities for maritime defense and war deterrence more explicit."
He argued, "There is absolutely no other guarantee for safeguarding peace other than ensuring a balance of power," adding, "We must make them fear us. Only then will they not even think about crossing over to us, and we can safeguard the country's peace and development environment."
Chairman Kim said, "This ship is a means and capability included in the national nuclear response system," adding, "If the adversaries try to use force against us, I will order the comrades to use absolute force that is most lethal to the enemy."
In addition, he emphasized that important plans are currently being implemented to strengthen naval power and that he would prove it to the world once again in eight months. The possibility has been raised that the completed nuclear-powered submarine, whose hull was unveiled last March, will be revealed.
The Kang Kon suffered hull damage in an accident during a launching ceremony held at the Chongjin Shipyard in North Hamgyong Province last May, in which the stern fell into the water first while the bow remained on the launching platform. After claiming to have completed repairs in about 20 days, North Korea held a re-launching ceremony at the Rajin Shipyard last June. Having undergone navigation and maneuvering tests, the Kang Kon completed performance evaluations of its shipboard guns, automatic machine guns, electronic warfare capabilities, and anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-air weapon systems, including a strategic cruise missile test launch last July.

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