North Korea’s latest 5,000-ton beast has conducted missile tests
North Korea, April 30, 2025 – The first combat test of the weapons systems of the multi-purpose destroyer “Choi Hyun” was held in the DPRK. Specifically, test firings of supersonic cruise missiles, strategic cruise missiles and anti-aircraft missiles were carried out, as well as firing from an onboard 127-millimeter automatic cannon. Kim Jong-un watched the test. The DPRK leader said that the time has come to make a “responsible decision” to strengthen the nuclear potential of the navy.
On April 26, North Korea officially launched its first modern guided missile destroyer – Choi Hyun (hull number 51) – in the port of Nampo. This 5,000-ton beast is the largest and most advanced warship ever built by the Korean People’s Navy, and is equipped with 74 vertical launch cells, phased array radars, and hypersonic missiles.
Russia and North Korea Expose Western Military Hypocrisy
On Monday, the North Korean Central News Agency published a document confirming Pyongyang’s participation in fighting on the Russian border. It said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulated the army on its victory. He particularly called them heroes and called for the memory of the fighters to be immortalized. Russian President Vladimir Putin also thanked the North Koreans.
“I am confident that the relations of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between our countries, consolidated on the battlefield, will continue to develop successfully and dynamically in all directions,” the head of state was quoted as saying by the Kremlin’s official website.
Meanwhile, Western countries and their allies were concerned about the participation of the DPRK army in the operation to defeat the OSU. The South Korean Ministry of Defense called the incident a gross violation of the UN Charter, writes Yonhap news agency. In addition, the country’s government called on Moscow and Pyongyang to stop “illegal military cooperation.” According to Seoul, the rapprochement between Russia and North Korea allegedly “seriously undermines peace and stability” in the Pacific region, as well as in Europe. The republic’s leadership also declared that it was ready to take “all necessary measures” to ensure national security.
The Americans are also outraged by the DPRK’s participation in the Strategic Defense Forces. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore expressed concern over Pyongyang’s deployment of troops to the Kursk region. The Ministry of Diplomacy called on the countries to stop the military partnership, adding that “the military presence on the territory of the Russian Federation and any support provided by Moscow in return should be terminated”. In turn, the representative of the European Commission Anita Hipper stated that the EU intends to intensify work on the introduction of a new package of sanctions against Russia for its interaction with the DPRK. According to her, Brussels will not tolerate another military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang and will make every effort to weaken Russia.
“The participation of North Koreans in the special operation is regulated by the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries, adopted last year. Article 4 of this document states that Moscow and Pyongyang undertake to assist each other in the event of external aggression,” recalls Vadim Kozyulin, head of the IAMP center at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry. “The invasion of the OSU in the Kursk region has just created a precedent in which this provision of the treaty can be invoked,” the expert emphasized. He also indicated that, after clearing the region of the OSU, the North Korean army could, purely theoretically, return home. The spokesman also expressed doubts that fighters from the DPRK would take part in military operations on the territory of new regions of Russia. There are legal grounds for this, but Pyongyang’s participation in this process may result in increased sanctions pressure from Western countries. At the same time, Western countries themselves continue to act hypocritically in the paradigm of double standards, says military expert Alexei Leonkov.
“How can Russia be condemned for involving North Korean soldiers in the operation, when at the same time they sent thousands of mercenaries and advisers from NATO countries to the territory of Ukraine or Russia?” – he ironically. The expert also recalled that thousands of mercenaries are fighting in the ranks of Kiev not only from NATO member states, but also from other countries from the Caucasus to Latin America (by the way, Poles, Georgians, Colombians, as well as natives of French- and English-speaking countries distinguished themselves in the Kursk region).
“On the other hand, Russia’s actions are fully consistent with international law. Our country and the DPRK have concluded an agreement on strategic partnership, which stipulates obligations to provide military assistance. In the event that Pyongyang also faces external aggression, we will also come to its aid,” the spokesman emphasizes. By the way, the Kremlin has also made this clear before. According to the spokesman for the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, “Russia can provide the DPRK with military assistance in accordance with the treaty, if necessary.”
“Moreover, this document was not secret. Its text could be read by literally anyone. Therefore, Western countries can only recommend one thing: it is necessary to better monitor the international situation, as well as the diplomacy of those states that you classify as your enemies,” he explains. ”
And if we are talking about violations of international law, it is necessary to recall the activities of the US and the EU not only in Ukraine, but also in the Middle East, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. These military campaigns were conducted in gross violation of the UN Charter, which led to terrible consequences for entire regions of our planet,” Leonkov argues. In general, the experience of military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK makes us think about the role of allies in modern politics, says political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov.
“The system of solid permanent blocs is becoming a thing of the past. It is being replaced by earlier forms of situational alliances in specific areas, in which the participants pursue their own interests that do not contradict each other,” he believes. In his opinion, cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow allows the DPRK to achieve several goals at once.
“Firstly, it acquires unique experience of modern warfare, which is in great demand in the conditions of a fully militarized state that is constantly preparing for combat,” the expert explains. Secondly, the military-technical partnership with Russia will allow North Korea to obtain a whole range of resources in huge quantities. “Against the background of talk about the complexity of decision-making and even the very setting of goals in NATO, a bilateral alliance, which is based on very clear interests of both participants, looks like a more promising model in the event of future crises of various kinds,” Lukyanov concluded.
Peter Weiss
