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· collected 2026-09-07 · by Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the commissioning of a warship called the Kang Kon, which he said can deliver "annihilating retaliatory strikes" against an enemy. The warship was deployed at Wonsan Port in Kangwon Province on Sunday, amid tensions with the US and South Korea, who are set to begin a five-day military exercise. According to KCNA, the Kang Kon has the same weapons systems as another North Korean warship, Choe Hyon, which can carry missiles capable of carrying a nuclear payload. Kim said he would demonstrate another stage of North Korea's naval buildup in eight months and that the country is accelerating efforts to modernize its navy.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un commissioned his second naval destroyer, the Kang Kon, in a ceremony attended by himself and his teenage daughter. The ship is one of two 5,000-tonne destroyers equipped with nuclear-capable missiles, making them North Korea's most advanced warships. This comes as the US, South Korea, and Japan are conducting a trilateral military exercise that Kim views as a security threat. In a speech at the ceremony, Kim said that the destroyers' commissioning would "deepen the concerns of our enemies" and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent. The move is seen as an escalation by North Korea in response to President Donald Trump's decision to scale back a major military drill with South Korea.
Written for “North Korean Military Buildup” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.55 for article 6525 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-07
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the commissioning of a warship he said could deliver “annihilating retaliatory strikes on an enemy”, citing “constant threats”, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
uncertain
he → attend → Agency
The Kang Kon, named after the North Korean military leader who was killed in action during the Korean War, was formally deployed at a ceremony at the eastern Wonsan Port in Kangwon Province on Sunday.
asserted
who → name → Sunday
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asserted
Kim → commission → navy
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asserted
Kim → order → destroyer
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asserted
drills → fire → end
In his address, Kim said the warship “represents the self-respect and will” of North Korea to defend its rights and interests, KCNA reported.
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KCNA → say → rights
“The time has come for us to exercise our sovereignty at sea and under water,” Kim said, according to KCNA.
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Kim → come → KCNA
He said that “dangerous shadows must be erased” and that North Korea was under constant threat in the “sea east of the Korean Peninsula and nearby waters”, KCNA reported.
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KCNA → say → Peninsula
KCNA did not specify what weapons systems might be deployed on the Kang Kon, but said it has the same weapons systems as the 5,000-tonne warship Choe Hyon launched in June.
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Hyon → specify → June
A previous KCNA report said Choe Hyon-class destroyers can carry a range of weapons, including missiles that analysts say are capable of carrying a nuclear payload.
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analysts → say → payload
The ship was commissioned a day before the US, South Korea and Japan were set to begin a five-day military exercise in waters east and south of South Korea’s Jeju Island.
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US → commission → Island
South Korea’s military said in a statement that the Freedom Edge exercise is defensive in nature and meant to respond to North Korean nuclear and missile threats as well as promote regional peace and stability.
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exercise → say → peace
North Korea has previously slammed the trilateral drill as a “reckless show of strength”.
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Korea → slam → strength
Sunday marks the third launch of the Kang Kon; the destroyer partially capsized during the first commissioning in May 2025 before it was repaired and relaunched the following month.
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it → mark → May
It underwent further repairs and sea trials before completing weapons testing in July this year.
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It → undergo → July
Kim said he would demonstrate another stage of North Korea’s naval buildup in eight months, KCNA said, without giving details.
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KCNA → say → details
North Korea has accelerated efforts to modernise its navy as Kim pursues a broader expansion of the country’s nuclear-capable forces.
He also said the construction of naval bases on North Korea’s east coast was under way and that the country would create new naval units and build different classes of warships.
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country → accelerate → warships
Pyongyang, which calls itself an “irreversible” nuclear state, frames the build-up as deterrence against Washington and Seoul.
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which → call → Washington
The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war, and Kim has accused the allies of driving the region “to the brink of a nuclear war”.
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Kim → remain → war
