Image Credits: KCNA
North Korea has commissioned its largest warship ever, the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer, in a major step to modernise its navy and build larger, nuclear-capable surface warships.
Leader Kim Jong Un attended the commissioning ceremony in the western port city of Nampho on June 23 and said the country’s programme to equip its navy with nuclear weapons was moving ahead as planned.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the destroyer has joined the Korean People’s Army Navy’s West Sea Fleet, where it will be tasked with defending the country’s western waters.
The move is part of North Korea’s plan to strengthen its naval forces with larger warships, new naval bases and underwater weapons. It also comes as military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have grown closer.
The Choe Hyon was built at Nampho Shipyard and launched on April 25, 2025. Before entering service, it carried out several sea trials and weapons tests, many of them overseen by Kim.
During the ceremony, Kim said the destroyer showed North Korea could now build modern destroyers and future cruisers using its own technology.
State media says the Choe Hyon class displaces about 5,000 tonnes and is around 140-145 metres long. It claims the ship is equipped with an 88-cell vertical launch system capable of firing anti-aircraft, anti-ship, anti-submarine and anti-ballistic missiles, although those claims have not been independently verified.
Since its launch, North Korea has reported several missile tests from the destroyer. On May 2, 2025, it announced the launch of a Hwasal-2 cruise missile. Kim later inspected the ship on March 3 and 4, 2026, when a sea-to-surface cruise missile was fired.
On April 12, 2026, the destroyer launched two cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles. Images released by state media showed the missiles being fired from a box-type launcher installed amidships rather than from the reported vertical launch system.
The commissioning comes after a setback involving the second destroyer of the same class.
The Kang Kon (52) capsized during its side launch at Chongjin Shipyard on May 21, 2025, while Kim was attending the ceremony. State media said the ship overturned after the launch, leaving its bow damaged.
Kim described the incident as an act of “criminality” caused by “absolute negligence” and “irresponsibility,” and several shipyard officials were later implicated.
Salvage work began later that month. After being righted, the ship was towed about 80 kilometres to Rajin, where it was relaunched on June 12, 2025.
Commercial satellite images and independent analysts confirmed the recovery process. The relaunch returned the vessel to the water but did not confirm whether its weapons or combat systems were fully operational.
The Kang Kon began navigation and propulsion trials in early June 2026. North Korean reports said the tests were designed to check the hull, engines, navigation systems, autonomous sailing capability and crew readiness before the ship enters active service.
Kim said the Kang Kon will be commissioned soon, although no date has been announced.
North Korea is also building two more destroyers of the same class.
Kim said the third ship is expected to be completed by October 10, the anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
Looking ahead, Kim announced plans to build 10,000-ton “strategic cruisers,” a term North Korea uses for warships capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Under the country’s naval construction plan for 2026-2030, North Korea aims to build two major surface warships every year, along with escort ships, special-purpose vessels and underwater weapon systems.
Military analysts have also identified what appears to be the Russian Pantsir-ME close-in weapon system on the Choe Hyon class.
South Korean military officials and independent analysts believe Russia may have provided technical support or technology, although the extent of that assistance remains unclear.
North Korea’s naval expansion has taken place alongside closer military cooperation with Russia following Pyongyang’s support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
South Korean analysts have also said some weapons tested from the Choe Hyon, including a supersonic cruise missile, appear to use Russian technology.
North Korea’s navy has traditionally relied on ageing Soviet-era ships mainly used for coastal defence.
The Choe Hyon gives the country a larger warship capable of operating farther from its coastline and carrying a wider range of missile systems.
Kim also said North Korea plans to build large multi-purpose naval bases and modern port cities to support its growing fleet.
In another first, the Choe Hyon has been entered into the International Maritime Organization database, making it the first large North Korean warship to be recorded there.
References: USNI, NYTimes
