www.thestar.com - RSS Results of type article
· collected 2026-09-07 · by Hyung-jin Kim And Kim Tong-hyung The Associated Press
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has commissioned his country's second naval destroyer, the Kang Kon, which can carry conventional and nuclear weapons. The ship was put into service in Wonsan on Sunday, at a ceremony attended by Kim and his teenage daughter. State media reported that Kim views the addition of the destroyer as a way to enhance North Korea's ability to exercise its nuclear deterrent, stating "Concerns of the enemies will be surely deepened." The U.S., South Korea, and Japan are currently holding a five-day military exercise in the waters off Jeju island.
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 model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 6630: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-07
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un put his second naval destroyer into service and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent, state media reported Monday, as the U.S., South Korea and Japan held a trilateral military exercise he views as a security threat.
asserted
he → put → threat
The ship’s commissioning comes as North Korea is dialing up pressure on the U.S. after rebuffing President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back a major military drill with South Korea in a conciliatory step toward Kim.
asserted
Korea → come → Kim
Observers say North Korea wants to wrest bigger U.S. concessions.
asserted
Korea → say → concessions
The destroyer Kang Kon was commissioned into North Korea’s navy in the eastern port city of Wonsan Sunday at a ceremony attended by Kim and his teenage daughter, whom South Korea’s spy service calls his likely heir.
asserted
service → commission → whom
North Korean state media photos showed the girl dressed in a white dress and blazer walking alongside her father on a red carpet, touring the warship and posing with sailors together.
asserted
girl → show → sailors
North Korean destroyers regarded as its most advanced warships
The ship and the Choe Hyon, which was put into service in June, are both 5,000-ton destroyers that state media said can carry various conventional and nuclear weapons.
asserted
media → regard → weapons
Considered North Korea’s biggest and most advanced warships, the two destroyers were likely built with Russian assistance, experts say.
asserted
experts → consider → assistance
In July, North Korea said it test-fired nuclear-capable cruise missiles from the Kang Kon.
asserted
it → say → Kon
In a speech at the ceremony, Kim said the back-to-back warship additions instilled fear in the enemies as the nuclear armament of North Korea’s navy made it possible to exercise its nuclear deterrent in a more diversified, practical manner.
asserted
it → say → manner
“Concerns of the enemies will be surely deepened,” Kim said.
asserted
Kim → deepen → enemies
“We must establish more clearly a powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent, to put into practice the diverse and effective operation of our nuclear combat systems and further strengthen our military activities for maritime defense and war deterrence.”
asserted
We → establish → defense
After years of prioritizing ballistic missile development, Kim has increasingly turned his focus to modernize the navy, which he admitted in Sunday’s speech lacked warships befitting its mission until a few years ago.
asserted
he → prioritize → mission
Outside experts said the North Korean destroyers’ weapons and radar systems would enhance its offensive and defensive capabilities.
asserted
systems → say → capabilities
Kim said North Korea is pursuing another “significant” naval advancement that would be unveiled in eight months.
asserted
that → say → months
Many observers say the project could be related to Kim’s stated goal of acquiring a nuclear-powered submarine.
uncertain
project → say → submarine
South Korea, US and Japan open trilateral drill
asserted
Korea → open → drill
On Monday, the U.S., South Korea and Japan kicked off their five-day Freedom Edge exercise in the waters off South Korea’s southern Jeju island.
asserted
U.S. → kick → island
South Korea’s military said the exercise is defensive in nature and meant to enhance a joint response capability against North Korean nuclear threats.
asserted
exercise → say → threats
It said the exercise involves key maritime and aerial military assets of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
asserted
exercise → say → Korea
Last week, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of more clearly expressing its confrontational posture against the North.
asserted
Ministry → accuse → North
It cited the Freedom Edge exercise and U.S. officials’ reported comments that the U.S. remains committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
asserted
U.S. → cite → Korea
On Aug. 21, the U.S. and South Korean militaries ended their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise six days earlier than originally planned, after Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the drill.
asserted
he → end → drill
Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with Kim, who views the drill as an invasion rehearsal.
asserted
who → cite → rehearsal
But Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, shrugged off Trump’s outreach, saying just shortening the drill won’t change its “provocative, aggressive nature.”
asserted
shortening → shrug → nature
North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea, apparently delivering on its previous threat to respond to the U.S.-South Korean drill.
asserted
Korea → launch → drill
Kim Jong Un has previously said he could return to talks if the U.S. drops its “hostile policy” against North Korea and respects what he calls North Korea’s status as a nuclear state.
uncertain
he → say → state
