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North Korea commissioned its second Choe Hyon-class guided missile destroyer, th
North Korea commissioned its second Choe Hyon-class guided missile destroyer, the Kang Kon, at Wonsan Port on September 6. Naval analysts described the vessel — displacing approximately 5,000 tonnes — as the largest and most heavily armed warship the country's navy has ever operated. The country's leader attended the ceremony; state media reported he described the ship as capable of delivering overwhelming retaliatory strikes against what he called ongoing external threats. The commissioning coincided with a joint maritime and air exercise by the United States, South Korea, and Japan in nearby waters. The Kang Kon had a troubled path to service: it capsized during its first launch attempt in May 2025 before being refloated and ultimately entering use. Pyongyang frames its naval build-up as a defensive necessity; governments in the region and beyond interpret the same events very differently. What do you think is the most constructive way for neighbouring countries to manage rising military capabilities in a region like this?