Choe Hyon-class destroyer
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Nampo Shipyard |
| Operators |  Korean People's Navy |
| Built | 2024–present |
| In commission | 2025–2025 |
| Building | 2 |
| Completed | 1 |
| Laid up | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Displacement | 5,000 t (4,900 long tons) |
| Length | 144 m (472 ft 5 in) |
| Beam | 16 m (52 ft 6 in) |
The Choe Hyon-class destroyer (Korean: 최현급 구축함; Hanja: 崔賢級驅逐艦) is a class of guided-missile destroyers of the Korean People's Navy (KPN). The first vessel, the Choe Hyon, was unveiled by the Korean People's Army on 30 December 2024. The second unnamed vessel capsized during launch.
History
On 25 April 2025, the Choe Hyon was launched.[1][2]
On 21 May during the launching of the second ship at Chongjin, a "serious accident" occurred, damaging the hull in the process.[3] Kim Jong Un declared this to be a "criminal act" and that it had "lowered the dignity and self-respect of our state in a moment". He stated that the ship must be restored by the next plenary of the party in June.[4][5] He also called for those designing the ship to be held responsible.[6] As a result of the failed launch of the second ship, North Korea arrested four officials, including the chief engineer, the construction head and an administrative manager. Ri Hyong-son, a member of the Central Military Commission, was also arrested and deemed to be "largely responsible for the serious accident" according to North Korea's state news agency, KCNA.[7]
Development
Name
The lead ship was named after Choe Hyon, a North Korean general who served as a general in the Northeast Counter-Japanese United Army and later became the Minister of the People's Armed Forces of North Korea.[8][9]
Design
It is the first surface vessel in the Korean People's Navy to be equipped with a phased array radar and a vertical launching system.[1]
Ships in the class
| Name | Hull no. | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choe Hyon | 51 | Nampo Shipyard, Nampo | May 2024 | 25 April 2025 | On trials | |
| Unnamed | Chongjin Shipyard, Chongjin | 21 May 2025 (first attempt) | Damaged during launch, capsized,[10] under repair |
References
- ^ a b "North Korea Launches New 5,000-Tonne Warship With "Most Powerful Weapons"". NDTV. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ Zwirko, Colin (25 April 2025). "North Korea launches largest new warship, states aim to sail beyond peninsula". NK News. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ 유, 민주. "뉴스1 - 북한소식 | 北 "신형 구축함 진수식 중 엄중한 사고 발생"…김정은 "용납 못해"". News1 (in Korean). Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ "조선의 소리". vok.rep.kp. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ "Ceremony of Launching Newly-Built Destroyer Takes Place". Korean Central News Agency. 22 May 2025.
- ^ Ng, Kelly (22 May 2025). "Kim Jong Un slams 'serious accident' at warship launch". BBC News. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Ng, Kelly (26 May 2025). "North Korea arrests senior official over warship launch failure". BBC News. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ^ Yim, Hyunsu (26 April 2025). "North Korea unveils new 'Kim Jong Un style' 5,000-tonne warship". Reuters. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ "North Korea unveils new 'Kim Jong Un style' 5,000-tonne warship". The Straits Times. 26 April 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ "Satellite images reveal damage to North Korea warship after 'criminal' launch accident". The Guardian. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.