DICTATOR Kim Jong Un’s terrifying naval destroyer that could potentially fire nuclear missiles can’t even sail on its own.
The menacing 5,000-tonne “Choe Hyon-class” was unveiled in North Korea last month – and has become the hermit kingdom’s largest ever.
The mighty warship was expected to substantially boost North Korea’s naval capabilities – but experts say that it can’t actually move itself.
A wild fanfare erupted amid its release, as footage of it was broadcast on state television to amazed residents.
North Korea’s state media, which operates as tyrant Kim’s primary propaganda outlet, announced that the vessel is armed with the “most powerful weapons.”
But during the hour-long newsreel – the vessel wasn’t seen moving at any point.
Experts have now debunked the reason why the colossal battleship did not set sail without help.
Satellite images taken before and after the vessel’s debut ceremony suggest the ship is not able to move under its own power.
North Korea analyst Martyn William said: “The analysis is based on a couple of satellite images that show it being pushed around the port by tugs.
“It did not move under its own steam to either the launch ceremony or back to where it was being built.”
He said that this highlighted “the lack of a functioning propulsion system”.
Weighing over 5,000 tonnes, the destroyer is poised to become the largest warship in North Korea’s naval arsenal, exceeding the size of the current largest vessel, a 1,360-tonne frigate.
Earlier reports indicated that North Korea’s new class of warship could house dozens of vertical launch cells to deploy missiles already developed by its military.
Military analysts say these launchers will be capable of firing guided cruise missiles, which North Korea says could carry nuclear warheads.
The threatening ship gets its moniker from a North Korean general who fought alongside Kim Il Sung – the nation’s founder and Kim Jong Un’s grandad.
Choe used to “strike horror into the hearts of the two imperialist powers”, tyrannical Kim said, referring to the US and mortal enemy South Korea.
Footage from North Korea’s state-run television KRT last month showed Kim arriving in Nampho with his daughter Ju Ae after travelling to the western port city by train.
Kim, in a speech from the launch reported by KCNA, said the warship would be handed over to the navy and go into service early next year.
In a chilling threat to the West, the tyrant said: “If the U.S. continues to renew its record in the protests of military power, we will have no choice but to renew it in the exercise of strategic deterrence.”
Kim also said strong pre-emptive attack capabilities were the most “convincing war deterrent” and that there was no limit to the scope of such attacks.
“The security environment of our country is very serious right now,” the leader was quoted as saying by KCNA while vowing to build a fleet for open-sea operations.
The revelation comes after bombshell satellite images revealed the giant sea vessel under construction in a shipyard on the country’s west coast.
Pictures showed the weapon systems that would help the ship fire missiles at targets on both land and sea, according to analysts.
Kim’s forces appear to have built the menacing ship despite heavy international sanctions against North Korea.
But the despot’s relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin could be helping him get around the sanctions, analysts claim.
