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ANKARA (AA) - North Korea Wednesday said it conducted the first test-firing of its new 5,000-ton destroyer's weapons system earlier this week, state media reported.

Under the inspection of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, the tests on Monday and Tuesday involved firings of cruise missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, 127-milimeter ship-based automatic guns and electronic jamming guns, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Pyongyang held a launching ceremony of the new multipurpose warship Choe Hyon, named after an anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter, was officially launched on Friday, armed with weapons that it said will significantly enhance its naval operations.

The destroyer is equipped with supersonic strategic cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and other strike means, and will be deployed by the navy sometime next year.

"The time has come to make a responsible option for accelerating the nuclear armament of the navy in order to defend the state and maritime sovereignty from the existing and future threat," Kim said.

On Tuesday, Kim visited the Nampho shipyard and took a picture with workers, scientists and technicians with the new destroyer in the background, according to the KCNA.