Key facts
- North Korea commissioned a new 5,000-ton destroyer named the Choe Hyon.
- Leader Kim Jong Un attended the commissioning ceremony, calling it a symbol of growing naval and nuclear capabilities.
- The Choe Hyon is equipped with various weapons systems, including nuclear-capable missiles.
- The vessel will be tasked with defending North Korea's western coast.
- Analysts suggest the ship may have been built with Russian assistance.
- North Korea plans to build two such destroyers annually and a larger 10,000-ton destroyer.
North Korea has commissioned a new 5,000-ton destroyer, the Choe Hyon, which leader Kim Jong Un hailed as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities. State media reported that Kim stated at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday that warships like the Choe Hyon demonstrate that the nuclear armament of his navy is progressing as planned.
The Choe Hyon will be tasked with defending North Korea's western coast. Since its unveiling in April 2025, Kim has presented the destroyer as a significant step toward expanding his military’s operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities. The warship is reportedly equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
South Korean officials and experts suggest the vessel was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties between the two nations. However, some analysts have expressed doubts about its readiness for active service.
Kim stated that it is a thing of the past when the navy existed solely for defending the coast, and it is now rising into a full-fledged service equipped with strategic means. He also announced plans to build two Choe Hyon-class or larger surface combatants annually, and a larger 10,000-ton destroyer.
North Korea previously unveiled a second destroyer in the same class in May 2025, which was damaged during a botched launch. Kim indicated that this ship, named Kang Kon, will also be entering service soon.
Since the collapse of nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019, Kim has accelerated the expansion of his nuclear arsenal and strengthened ties with Moscow and Beijing.