Chinese warships traverse four major Japanese straits, with at least seven deployed in the Western Pacific
Korean "Kang Jeon" destroyer conducts weapon system performance evaluation tests
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Lately, Japan's Ministry of Defense's Joint Staff Office website has frequently released information about Chinese naval vessel activities: from June 25 to July 1, Japan issued a total of 10 pieces of information regarding the Chinese Navy. On June 29 alone, five reports were released.
June 24–25: The Type 052D missile destroyers Xining and Guiyang entered the Sea of Japan through the Tsushima Strait;
June 26: The Type 054A missile frigate Anyang entered the Western Pacific through the Miyako Strait;
June 27: The Type 052D missile destroyer Suzhou entered the Western Pacific through the Hengdang Waterway;
June 27–28: The Type 054A missile frigates Yancheng, a general-purpose replenishment ship, and the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang entered the Western Pacific through the Ōsumi Strait;
June 29: A Chinese Navy electronic reconnaissance vessel entered the Western Pacific through the Hengdang Waterway;
June 29: The Type 052C missile destroyer Xi'an entered the Western Pacific through the Ōsumi Strait;
June 30: The Type 055 destroyer Dongguan entered the Western Pacific through the Miyako Strait;
July 1: The Type 054A missile frigate Xiangtan entered the East China Sea through the Miyako Strait.
Based on the information released by Japan, China’s navy currently has at least seven warships deployed in the Western Pacific.
China has consistently emphasized that these operations are conducted in accordance with international law, as routine arrangements under its annual training plan, not targeted at any specific country, and consistent with the principle of freedom of navigation. As China’s blue-water fleet continues to expand, such legally compliant actions in international waters will serve as stabilizing factors in maintaining regional security, rather than sudden disruptions.
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According to KCNA, on July 3, North Korea’s “Kang Jeon” destroyer conducted test launches of strategic cruise missiles, along with trials of main weapon systems including naval guns, automatic cannons (machine guns), and electronic warfare measures. Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and State Affairs Commissioner, personally observed the tests.
The report stated that these trials were part of an assessment procedure aimed at verifying the combat suitability of various shipboard weapon systems. Following evaluations of target detection and information processing capabilities, as well as integrated firepower systems, performance evaluation firings were conducted for the naval guns and automatic cannons. Subsequently, the destroyer launched a strategic cruise missile.
Kim Jong-un remarked that the combat effectiveness and reliability of anti-ship, anti-submarine, air defense weapon systems, and strategic attack weapons aboard the “Kang Jeon” destroyer are undergoing responsible verification. Given recent developments in North Korea’s weapon system advancements, it is clear that the potential of North Korea’s naval combat system development is significant, greatly enhancing possibilities for transforming the strategic operational posture of the Korean military.
Kim Jong-un instructed that after responsibly completing the test procedures for the “Kang Jeon” destroyer, it should be delivered into naval service within two months.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869836277883144/
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