North Korea revealed a new 5,000-tonne multipurpose destroyer, marking a significant step in its efforts to modernise naval capabilities.
State media reported on Saturday that leader Kim Jong Un presided over a launch ceremony at the port city of Nampho, hailing the vessel as a cornerstone of Pyongyang’s strategy to counter perceived maritime threats and project power beyond its coastal waters.
Named Choe Hyon in honour of a revered anti-Japanese guerrilla commander, the destroyer is equipped with advanced air defence, anti-ship, and anti-submarine systems, as well as anti-ballistic missile technology.
Pyongyang claims the vessel can also deploy supersonic strategic cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles, enabling precision strikes against land targets. Kim, flanked by military officials, declared it a “crucial step” toward achieving “advanced maritime power” and deterring foreign military encroachment.
The most reliable means to proactively and safely manage the military threats on the Korean Peninsula, including nuclear threats, and to restrain and block any attempt by hostile overseas forces to reinforce their military presence on the peninsula, is to possess pelagic operational capabilities.
The destroyer, slated for delivery to the navy in early 2026, aligns with Pyongyang’s recent emphasis on countering US-South Korea-Japan military drills. The launch underscores Kim’s drive to bolster military readiness as nuclear talks remain frozen.
While the Choe Hyon’s operational range remains unclear, its development reflects North Korea’s broader push to offset conventional military weaknesses with asymmetric capabilities, including hypersonic weapons and submarine-launched missiles.
