---
title: "Kim Jong Un commissions North Korea's second destroyer, the Kang Gon, and integrates it into the nuclear deterrence system"
description: "On September 6, Kim Jong Un commissioned the DPRK Navy's second destroyer, the Kang Gon, with a displacement of about 5,000 tons, announcing its integration into the nuclear deterrence system. The ceremony was held at the port of Wonsan."
date: 2026-09-07T03:46:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/dprk-commissions-second-destroyer-kang-gon-nuclear-deterrence-system
tags: [north-korea, kim-jong-un, navy, destroyer, nuclear-deterrence, korea-strait, freedom-edge]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Kim Jong Un commissions North Korea's second destroyer, the Kang Gon, and integrates it into the nuclear deterrence system

![Kim Jong Un inspects the new destroyer Kan Gun alongside North Korean Navy commanders](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/07/kndr-vvela-vo-vtoroy-esminets-kan-gon-v-sistemu-yadernogo-sderzhivaniya/kndr-vvela-vo-vtoroy-esminets-kan-gon-v-sistemu-yadernogo-sderzhivaniya-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- On September 6, 2026, at the port of Wonsan, Kim Jong Un commissioned the DPRK Navy's second destroyer, the Kang Gon, with a displacement of about 5,000 tons.
- The DPRK leader stated that the ship will become part of the state's nuclear response system and is capable of delivering a powerful retaliatory strike.
- State media did not specify the type of nuclear weapon; the armament is similar to that of the first Choe Hyn-class destroyer.
- Construction was accompanied by an incident in May 2025 (partial capsizing during launch); cruise missile tests were conducted in July 2026.
- The move was made against the backdrop of the start of the Freedom Edge exercises of the US, South Korea, and Japan, which launched on September 7, 2026.

On September 6, 2026, at the port of Wonsan on the eastern coast of North Korea, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un personally commissioned the country's second destroyer, a vessel of approximately five thousand tons displacement named the Kang Gon. According to the North Korean leader, the ship will become part of the state's nuclear response system and must be capable of delivering a "powerful retaliatory strike" against the enemy. The ceremony marking the ship's entry into service took place against the backdrop of an ongoing regional arms race and coincided with the start of joint US, South Korean, and Japanese military exercises.

### Ceremony in Wonsan and the leader's daughter's participation

According to reports from several outlets, the ceremony commissioning the destroyer into the fleet was attended, in addition to Kim Jong Un himself, by his daughter. The DPRK leader, dressed in a white shirt, inspected the ship and the surrounding infrastructure, including an open platform with demonstration monitors where he was briefed on the vessel's characteristics. The Kang Gon will join the Eastern Fleet of the DPRK Navy, and its primary mission is stated to be the defense of the country's maritime sovereignty and the strengthening of nuclear deterrence on the eastern coast.

### Nuclear deterrence and armament composition

At the same time, DPRK state media did not specify what exact nuclear weapons the new destroyer could be equipped with. It is known that the ship carries weapon systems similar to those of the first destroyer of this class, the Choe Hyn, from which, according to Pyongyang's statements, various types of missiles can be launched, including those potentially capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Thus, the Kang Gon has been formally incorporated into the nuclear deterrence architecture, although its specific combat payload has not been publicly disclosed.

### Accelerated pace and construction problems

The second destroyer was commissioned less than three months after the first ship of this class, the Choe Hyn, indicating an acceleration in the deployment of vessels with potential nuclear capabilities on both coasts of the DPRK. The construction of the Kang Gon was accompanied by incidents: during the first attempt to launch the ship in May 2025, the vessel partially capsized, after which it was repaired and successfully launched. In July 2026, tests of strategic cruise missiles and other armaments were conducted from the destroyer, after which Kim Jong Un ordered the ship to be commissioned into the fleet within two months — a directive that was carried out by September 6.

### Strategic context and future plans

Kim Jong Un stated that North Korea must transform its fleet into full-fledged nuclear forces, and pledged to continue developing new ships and other strategic weapons. According to him, Pyongyang is working on a large-scale plan to strengthen the navy and will demonstrate a new stage of this program in about eight months. The strengthening of the DPRK's maritime potential is taking place against the backdrop of the start of the five-day Freedom Edge joint exercises of the US, South Korea, and Japan, which launched on September 7 and are aimed, among other things, at countering nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Kim Jong Un commissions another nuclear destroyer](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/kim-chen-in-vviv-ekspluatatsiyu-shche-odin-1788752487.html) - Подтверждает ввод в эксплуатацию второго эсминца и его связь с ядерным сдерживанием.
- [Kim Jong Un and his daughter attend the destroyer commissioning ceremony](https://www.mk.ru/politics/2026/09/07/kim-chen-yn-s-docheryu-prinyali-uchastie-v-ceremonii-prinyatiya-esminca.html) - Уточняет участие дочери лидера в церемонии принятия эсминца в состав флота.
- [Kim Jong Un and his daughter inspect the new ship in the Navy](https://news.rambler.ru/army/57024154-kim-chen-yn-vmeste-s-docheryu-osmotrel-novyy-korabl-v-sostave-vms/) - Подтверждает осмотр нового корабля в составе ВМС и присутствие дочери.
- [DPRK plans to integrate the destroyer into the nuclear response system](https://news.mail.ru/politics/72262142/) - Подтверждает намерение включить эсминец в систему ядерного реагирования.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What is the name of North Korea's new destroyer and when was it commissioned?
**A:** The ship was named the Kang Gon and was commissioned into the Navy on September 6, 2026, at the port of Wonsan.

### Q: What is the ship's displacement and which fleet will it join?
**A:** The displacement is approximately five thousand tons; the Kang Gon will join the Eastern Fleet of the DPRK Navy.

### Q: Is the destroyer nuclear-capable and what is it armed with?
**A:** Kim Jong Un announced the ship's integration into the nuclear deterrence system, although state media did not specify the type of nuclear weapon. The armament is similar to that of the first Choe Hyn-class destroyer, from which, according to Pyongyang's statements, missiles can be launched, including those potentially carrying a nuclear warhead.

### Q: Were there any problems during the ship's construction?
**A:** Yes, during the first attempt to launch the ship in May 2025, the vessel partially capsized, after which it was repaired and launched; in July 2026, tests of strategic cruise missiles were conducted from it.