Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, was reported on October 11 by the Rodong Sinmun to have overseen a strategic cruise missile test from North Korea's first 5000-ton multi-purpose attack ship, Choi Hyun-ho, via video conference. This event occurred just a week after Kim visited the Choi Hyun-ho, where he also witnessed the missile test firsthand. Analysts suggest this public display could be a strategic signal in light of the ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.

During the video conference, Kim expressed satisfaction with the recent advancements in operationalizing strategic tactical strike capabilities, stating that "significant achievements" have been made, and that the nation’s nuclear force has transitioned into a multi-dimensional operational stage. He stressed the importance of maintaining and expanding a robust and reliable nuclear deterrent as a critical strategic task. The country's military strategy appears to be focused not only on deterrence but also on enhancing offensive capabilities through advanced weapon systems.

Kim also outlined future plans for equipping small, high-mobility vessels with ship-mounted automatic guns and suggested that 5000-ton and 8000-ton destroyers should incorporate supersonic weapon systems instead of conventional armaments. The missiles successfully targeted designated island objectives during their flight, lasting approximately 10 minutes and 16 to 19 seconds, which reportedly pleased Kim Jong-un. The Choi Hyun-ho is viewed as a core component of the nation’s nuclear deterrence strategy, with plans to construct more ships of this class in the coming years, indicating an ongoing commitment to modernizing the North Korean navy alongside its nuclear capabilities.