North Korea Tests Missiles From New Nuclear Warship: A Look At Its Expanding Nuclear Arsenal And History

North Korea administered the first test-firing of the missile and artillery systems of the recently launched “Choe Hyon-class” warship earlier this week, state-run Central 카지노 사이트 Agency (KCNA) announced on Wednesday. The tests were conducted on April 28 and 29 in the presence of their leader Kim Jong Un, strengthening his bid to accelerate nuclear armament for maritime sovereignty.  

According to reports, hypersonic missile, strategic-cruise missile, automatic guns and anti-aircraft missile and artillery were tested to equip the naval forces with a blend of powerful strike weapons and conventional defenses. The move comes after North Korea launched the 5000-tonne warship equipped with the “most powerful weapons” in the warship industry.

“The time has come to make a responsible option for accelerating the nuclear armament of the navy in order to defend the state and maritime sovereignty from the existing and future threat,” the North Korean leader asserted while referring to the escalating hostilities led by the US, according to KCNA.

The state-run media channel had also reported earlier that North Korea sent combat troops to Russia to fight in the Kursk region in accordance with the defense treaty signed with Russia last year.  

In response to Pyongyang’s offensives, US and South Korea had held a weeklong military exercise last week. 

NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES: HISTORY AND OVERVIEW 

North Korea is estimated to house around 50 nuclear weapons while possessing enough fissile material to produce 70 to 90 nuclear arms. The nation has the capability to produce nuclear weapons that can be mounted on diverse land-based missile systems and is currently developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles. 

The North has boosted its nuclear capabilities since 2003 after withdrawing from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1985. Despite the withdrawal being deemed illegal and the UN passing resolutions aiming for the North to comply, the nation conducted six nuclear tests between 2006 to 2017. Reciprocating to its first test in 2006, the UN had adopted the resolution 1718 demanding Pyongyang to re-enter the treaty.

North Korea entered the nuclear ecosystem with aid from the Soviet Union in the early 60s and 70s who equipped it with plutonium reprocessing technology. In accordance with the treaty, the nation submitted an initial declaration to the International Atomic Agency in 1992 which highlighted that it had diverted plutonium reserves from its civilian program. 

As of 2025, North Korea ranks ninth among the world’s most powerful nuclear nations according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Study.