North Korea Adds Destroyer to Nuclear System as U.S. Allies Begin Drills

North Korea has incorporated the destroyer Kang Kon into what it describes as its nuclear response system, calling the vessel an offensive addition to the navy as U.S.-led allied drills began.

Kim Jong Un made the announcement during a commissioning ceremony held Sunday in the eastern port city of Wonsan, according to North Korea's state news agency, KCNA. He said the most important transformation in the navy was the realisation of naval nuclear weapons, which he described as what the country's enemies feared most.

Kim said the Kang Kon's crew would receive a “strategic mission” because the ship formed part of the national nuclear response system. He also said Pyongyang wanted to make the use of nuclear combat systems more diversified and effective for maritime defence and deterrence, and would deploy its most powerful strategic assets in waters it considered important.

The Kang Kon belongs to a class of ships North Korea is using to modernise its navy. Pyongyang said in July that the vessel had launched a “strategic” cruise missile. Its sister ship, the Choe Hyon, entered service in June, and the regime has announced plans to build more ships of the class.

Kim said North Korea was implementing an “important plan” to strengthen its naval forces and would show the results within eight months, without providing details.

The announcement coincided with the start of Freedom Edge, exercises involving South Korea, the United States and Japan. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the drills would continue through Friday and include maritime, air and cyber training to improve coordinated deterrence and responses to North Korean nuclear and missile threats. The three countries describe the exercises as defensive, while Pyongyang has called them a rehearsal for an invasion. No significant changes to the drills had been announced, despite Washington reducing its Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises with South Korea the previous month amid U.S. President Donald Trump's stated interest in resuming dialogue with Pyongyang.

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The most important transformation and the most significant development lies precisely in what the enemy fears most: the realisation of naval nuclear weapons.