North Korea commissions second nuclear-capable destroyer Kang Kon one year after launch failure

North Korea commissioned Kang Kon, its second 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, at Wonsan for service with the East Sea Fleet. The warship entered service after being damaged during its launch in 2025 and subsequently repaired. Kim Jong Un described it as an offensive asset linked to the country’s nuclear response system, though independent verification of its full weapon performance remains limited. Together with the earlier Choe Hyon, the ship marks a significant effort to add larger, missile-armed surface combatants to North Korea’s traditionally coastal navy.