Why a North Korean nuclear warship could become a liability for the regime



Analysis Why a North Korean nuclear warship could become a liability for the regime North Korea’s nuclear warship claim looks far more like political signaling than credible capability Ankit Panda March 12, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Korea tests a cruise missile from the Choe Hyon destroyer in April 2025, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches cruise missile launches from the Choe Hyon in March 2026 \| Image: KCNA and KCTV, edited by NK Pro North Korea, which has long portrayed its nuclear capabilities as an indefensible feature of its military, recently touted a nuclear-capable warship that has warranted both skepticism and alarm. Roughly a week after concluding the Ninth Party Congress, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the Choe Hyon, a Korean People’s Navy destroyer, and observed cruise missile launches from the ship on March 4. In subsequent video footage released by state media, the Choe Hyon is seen firing five cruise missiles in relatively quick succession – roughly five seconds of each other — from its on-board vertical launch Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01How North Korea’s newest ‘hypersonic’ missile could foil adversary defenses 02Crossing the Yalu: Why China and North Korea want to open long-stalled bridge 03A decade apart, two DMZ mine blasts highlight a new inter-Korean reality 04Chinese authorities seize smuggled goods bound for North Korea: records 05Likely Russian ship docks in North Korea’s Rason port for first time since May 06Trump doesn’t need a grand deal with Kim, but rather small coordinated actions 07North Korean trade with China rises 3.7% in August thanks to wig exports: data 08North Korea tensions expose Seoul’s uneasy relationship with UN Command

Analysis

Why a North Korean nuclear warship could become a liability for the regime

North Korea’s nuclear warship claim looks far more like political signaling than credible capability

Ankit Panda March 12, 2026

Why a North Korean nuclear warship could become a liability for the regime

North Korea tests a cruise missile from the Choe Hyon destroyer in April 2025, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches cruise missile launches from the Choe Hyon in March 2026 | Image: KCNA and KCTV, edited by NK Pro

North Korea, which has long portrayed its nuclear capabilities as an indefensible feature of its military, recently touted a nuclear-capable warship that has warranted both skepticism and alarm.

Roughly a week after concluding the Ninth Party Congress, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the Choe Hyon, a Korean People’s Navy destroyer, and observed cruise missile launches from the ship on March 4.

In subsequent video footage released by state media, the Choe Hyon is seen firing five cruise missiles in relatively quick succession – roughly five seconds of each other — from its on-board vertical launch

Why a North Korean nuclear warship could become a liability for the regime

LATEST ANALYSIS

Similar Articles

About the Author

Ankit Panda