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 was unveiled by the Korean People's Army on 30 December 2024. The second unnamed vessel capsized during launch.
History
[edit]On 25 April 2025, the first ship 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 4 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
[edit]Name
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]| 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
[edit]- ^ 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.