North Korean media outlets have reported that the country's leader Kim Jong Un has observed the test firings of cruise missiles and weapons systems mounted on a recently launched destroyer.



Kim reportedly asserted that the time has come to accelerate the nuclear armament of the navy in order to defend the state and maritime sovereignty.



North Korean media outlets reported on Wednesday that Kim observed the combat readiness tests of weapons systems on the destroyer Choe Hyon. The vessel was launched earlier this month.



The outlets said North Korea test-fired supersonic cruise missiles and strategic cruise missiles on Monday.



They also said that ship-to-ship tactical guided weapons and other systems were tested on Tuesday.



North Korea says the Choe Hyon is a new type of destroyer. Pyongyang describes it as a 5,000-ton-class multipurpose destroyer that can carry ballistic missiles.



South Korean media outlets have quoted an expert as saying that the vessel appears to have 74 cells of vertical launch systems for missiles.