SEOUL, South Korea — April 14, 2026 : North Korea conducted operational efficiency trials of its newly developed 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer on Sunday, April 12, test-firing a total of five missiles in waters off the country’s western coast, according to state media and South Korean military officials.
The launches took place over the Yellow Sea and included two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday, April 14, that all missiles followed predetermined flight paths and successfully struck their designated targets.
Telemetry data released by KCNA indicated that the two strategic cruise missiles remained airborne for between 7,869 and 7,920 seconds, exceeding two hours of flight time. The three anti-ship missiles recorded flight durations ranging from 1,960 to 1,973 seconds, or approximately 32 minutes. The classification of the cruise missiles as “strategic” suggests they are capable of carrying nuclear payloads.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the test in person alongside senior military and naval officials. According to KCNA, he stated that recent developments in defense science have strengthened the country’s strategic readiness and rapid-response capability.
The primary objective of the trial was to evaluate the destroyer’s integrated weapons command system and launch control mechanisms. The exercise also aimed to train the vessel’s crew in operational firepower procedures and to verify the precision of an upgraded active anti-jamming navigation system designed to maintain targeting accuracy in electronically contested environments.
The Choe Hyon is the lead ship of North Korea’s new-generation multi-mission destroyer class and represents the largest surface combatant publicly acknowledged by the Korean People’s Navy. The vessel, first unveiled in April 2025, is equipped with a vertical launching system (VLS) and phased array radar and is designed to carry a range of weapons, including strategic cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and anti-aircraft systems.
The destroyer is currently undergoing operational trials at facilities linked to the Nampo Shipyard on the west coast. During the visit, Kim was also briefed on weapons systems planned for two additional ships in the class, designated hull numbers 3 and 4, which are under construction at the same facility.
This marks the third instance of missile testing observed by Kim from the Choe Hyon, following similar launches conducted on March 4 and March 10, 2026.
South Korea’s military confirmed the launches. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported detecting multiple cruise missiles fired from waters near Nampho on Sunday morning. In its statement, the JCS said that South Korean and United States intelligence authorities are conducting a detailed analysis of the flight data while maintaining a coordinated defense posture to monitor further developments.
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