North Korea Fires Second Cruise Missile Salvo From New Destroyer — Kim Jong Un and Daughter Watch Closely
North Korea has test-fired strategic cruise missiles from its 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyon for the second time in just one week. State media released video showing leader Kim Jong Un and his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae observing the dusk launches remotely from a command center, as the missiles streaked toward targets off the west coast.
The test comes amid heightened tensions, with Pyongyang vowing strong countermeasures to the ongoing U.S.-South Korea Freedom Shield exercises. Kim stressed the need for a robust nuclear deterrent and praised the warship's readiness ahead of its full deployment.
Kim Ju Ae, now a frequent presence at major military events since 2022, sat beside her father during the monitoring session. South Korean intelligence has increasingly viewed her as a likely successor amid questions about Kim's health.
While the launches demonstrate growing naval strike capability for the year-old Choe Hyon, analysts see them as part of Pyongyang's routine pattern of provocations rather than a major technological breakthrough.
Source CBS