North Korea's Kim claims progress on nuclear-armed navy as new warship is placed into service

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer that leader Kim Jong Un touts as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities, state media reported Wednesday, as Pyongyang seeks to expand its ability to project military power at sea.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim told a commissioning ceremony Tuesday at the western port of Nampo that warships such as the Choe Hyon show that the nuclear armament of his navy is progressing as planned.

KCNA said the Choe Hyon was formally placed into service with North Korea’s navy after the ceremony and will be tasked with defending the country’s western coast.

Since unveiling the ship in April 2025, Kim has portrayed the Choe Hyon as a major step toward expanding his military’s operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities. KCNA has said the warship is equipped with a range of systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.

South Korean officials and experts say the vessel was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties between the countries, but some analysts have questioned whether it’s ready for active service.

North Korea has put the Choe Hyon through a series of tests in recent months ahead of its deployment, including launches of what it described as nuclear-capable cruise missiles from the vessel.

“It has clearly become a thing of the past when our navy existed as a force for defending the sea off our land,” Kim said in a speech at Tuesday's ceremony. “It is rising into a full-fledged service equipped with strategic means as the program of equipping the Navy with nuclear weapons is following its planned course unerringly.”

After years of spurring ballistic missile development, Kim has shifted his focus more toward naval capabilities, including the ongoing construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. Naval capabilities were also a key focus when Kim outlined his five-year military goals at February’s Workers’ Party congress, which included calls for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of underwater launches.

Kim, following a missile test aboard the Choe Hyon in March, claimed that his efforts to arm his navy with nuclear weapons would “constitute a radical change in defending our maritime sovereignty, something that we have not achieved for half a century.” State media didn’t elaborate on what Kim meant, but some analysts say North Korea may be preparing to formally declare a maritime boundary that could encroach on waters controlled by rival South Korea.

As inter-Korean tensions worsen, Kim has repeatedly said he does not recognize the Northern Limit Line in the western sea, drawn by the U.S.-led U.N. Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. The poorly drawn sea boundary has been the site of several deadly skirmishes in past years.

North Korea unveiled in May 2025 a second destroyer in the same class as the Choe Hyon, but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin, prompting a furious response from Kim. The country later said the ship, named Kang Kon, was relaunched in June after repairs, but outside experts have questioned whether it’s fully operational.

Kim during Tuesday’s speech said Kang Kon will also be entering service soon. North Korea also has separate plans to build a larger, 10,000-ton destroyer.

Since his nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019, Kim has accelerated the expansion of his nuclear arsenal and deepened ties with Moscow and Beijing. While maintaining a hard-line stance toward South Korea, he has left the door open to renewed talks with Washington, repeating Pyongyang’s demand that the United States drop denuclearization as a precondition for reviving negotiations.

Separately, South Korea’s military said Wednesday it had taken into custody an unidentified North Korean soldier who crossed the heavily fortified inter-Korean border Tuesday night. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the soldier expressed an intent to defect and that relevant authorities were investigating the incident.

In this photo provided Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by the North Korean government, North Korean destroyer Choe Hyon is seen during its commissioning ceremony at a port in Nampo, North Korea, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this photo provided Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by the North Korean government, the commissioning ceremony of North Korean destroyer Choe Hyon is held at a port in Nampo, North Korea, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this photo provided Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by the North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, center, speaks during a commissioning ceremony of its destroyer Choe Hyon at the port in Nampo Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this photo provided Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by the North Korean government, North Korean destroyer Choe Hyon leaves the port following a commissioning ceremony in Nampo Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Cameron Boozer sees himself as a perfect addition to the Memphis Grizzlies’ latest rebuilding project.

The Grizzlies selected the Duke forward with the third pick in the NBA draft Tuesday night, adding another high pick for a third straight year. Boozer joins 7-foot-3 center Zach Edey, the ninth overall pick in 2024, and Cedric Coward, the 11th selection a year ago and member of the All-NBA rookie team.

The 6-8, 253-pound Boozer is the son of former Duke and NBA player Carlos Boozer. He was the fifth freshman voted AP men’s national player of the year. Now Cameron Boozer joins Edey, a two-time AP men’s national player of the year, in Memphis’ front court.

“I think we automatically become one of the best rebounding duos in the league,” Boozer said. “His size is unmatched. ... I mean he’s just a big dude. It’s going to be exciting to see what different types of things we can do. Really mess up other teams and cause some mismatches for sure.”

Memphis also added forward Karim Lopez at No. 21 after twice trading back from No. 16 in a series of moves that returned five future second-round picks.

The Grizzlies sent the draft rights for Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz at No. 16 to Oklahoma City in exchange for the rights to Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie and two second-round picks. Then Memphis sent Okorie's draft rights to Detroit for Lopez as the 21st pick and three more second-round picks. Neither deal can be finalized until July 6.

The 6-8 Lopez is the first Mexican-born player taken in the first round of an NBA draft. He played two seasons in Australia’s National Basketball League’s “Next Stars” developmental program that produced lottery picks LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey and Alex Sarr in recent years. Lopez just turned 19 in April.

“It means a lot to me,” Lopez said. “It’s just a great opportunity for me and my country to have this platform and have this opportunity. So super blessed and definitely take it with a lot of pride.”

The big prize Tuesday night was Boozer, someone general manager Zach Kleiman called “a very significant piece” for the Grizzlies.

Boozer averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds while helping Duke win 35 games and reach No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. The Blue Devils claimed the top overall seed for March Madness and reached the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

He showed the kind of toughness the Grizzlies can use after so many injuries over the past couple seasons. Boozer finished a loss to UConn with 27 points despite suffering multiple facial fractures in the first half.

That helped Boozer prove he can finish through contact shooting 55.6% from the floor and also shot 39.1% from 3-point range. Boozer also is a strong passer (4.1 assists), notably assisting on Isaiah Evans’ late 3-pointer to beat reigning national champion Florida.

“We certainly think he’s a great fit on court," Kleiman said. "Off court, we think he is going to represent this organization and this city very well for years and years to come.”

Memphis kicked this rebuild into gear last summer trading away Desmond Bane and followed up by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. in February.

The only reason two-time All-Star Ja Morant hasn’t joined that exodus was Memphis could not find a good enough deal for the point guard to close out the three core Grizzlies who were supposed to lead the franchise into the future.

Memphis still is expected to move on from Morant with the guard playing only 79 games combined over the last three seasons. Morant could be packaged as part of a move up in this draft by the Grizzlies with two years left on his current contract. Kleiman said the Grizzlies are focused on this draft right now.

"We’re not going to speculate on hypothetical transactions tonight,” Kleiman said after the end of the first round.

The Grizzlies moved up from sixth to third in the lottery after finishing 25-57 and missing the playoffs for the second time in three years. That record makes it difficult to get a read on coach Tuomas Iisalo and whether his time in European basketball will translate to NBA success.

Memphis also has shooting guard Jaylen Wells, who has started 143 of 148 games in his first two seasons. He joined Edey on the NBA’s All-Rookie team, and veteran Ty Jerome was added a year ago as another guard option.

AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds and Associated Press freelance reporter Clay Bailey contributed to this report.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Karim López arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cameron Boozer arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cameron Boozer arrives for the first round of the NBA basketball draft Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Cameron Boozer gestures as he walks off the stage after being chosen by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Cameron Boozer, right, poses for a photo with Adam Silver, left, NBA Commissioner, after being selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)