North Korea's state news agency, KCNA, today released photos showing leader Kim Jong-un directing a "strategic cruise missile" launch from the destroyer Choe Hyon. His daughter, Kim Ju-ae, dressed in a leather jacket, was seen observing the event by his side.
The strategic cruise missiles flew a closed trajectory over the Yellow Sea for nearly three hours, successfully hitting designated targets on 10/3. KCNA quoted Kim as stating that "maintaining and expanding a strong, reliable nuclear deterrence is extremely important."
 |
Kim and his daughter, alongside North Korean officials, observe the missile test on 10/3. Photo: KCNA |
Kim and his daughter, alongside North Korean officials, observe the missile test on 10/3. Photo: KCNA
Ri Il-hwan and Kim Jae-ryong, members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, stood behind them during the exercise. This missile launch occurred after the United States and South Korea began their "Freedom Shield" joint exercise, which is scheduled to last for eleven days. North Korea has consistently condemned joint US-South Korea military drills as preparations for invasion, while Seoul and Washington maintain they are defensive in nature.
Pyongyang typically uses the term "strategic" to refer to weapons capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The country first tested a strategic cruise missile with nuclear warhead capability in 9/2021.
 |
Leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter observe the exercise on 10/3. Photo: KCNA |
Leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter observe the exercise on 10/3. Photo: KCNA
Kim expressed satisfaction that the test verified "the reliability of the national integrated control system for strategic weapons and the superiority of the destroyer's integrated combat system." The Choe Hyon destroyer also conducted a strategic cruise missile launch exercise last week, prior to the warship's official commissioning.
Choe Hyon is the first in a series of 5,000-ton displacement warships that North Korea is developing. This multi-role surface vessel is expected to realize Kim's ambition to transform the North Korean navy into an offshore combat force, thereby increasing its power and deterrence capabilities against adversaries.
While North Korea refers to the Choe Hyon-class multi-role warship as a destroyer, Western experts classify it as a heavy missile frigate, noting its displacement is comparable to advanced warships in Europe.
 |
Strategic cruise missile launched from the destroyer Choe Hyon on 10/3. Photo: KCNA |
Strategic cruise missile launched from the destroyer Choe Hyon on 10/3. Photo: KCNA
The second ship in the series, named Kang Kon, experienced a launch incident in 5/2025 and had to be returned to the shipyard for repairs before its successful second launch one month later. The third warship is currently being completed at the Nampho shipyard, with completion anticipated in 10/2026.
Ju-ae is believed to have been born in 2012 and is the second daughter of the North Korean leader, according to South Korean intelligence. North Korea first publicly released images of Ju-ae in 11/2022 when she accompanied her father during an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. South Korean intelligence last month suggested that Kim may designate his daughter, Ju-ae, as his successor.
Hong Hanh (According to Yonhap, Chosun)
