North Korean Navy’s Second Destroyer Begins First Sea Trials as Rapid Fleet Expansion Continues

The second Choe Hyon class destroyer built for the Korean People’s Army Navy, the the Kang Kon, was confirmed on June 6 to have begun its maiden sea trials, over a year after its launch on May 21, 2025. Chairman of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party Kim Jong Un personally boarded the destroyer for the trails, and announced that North Korea will build 10,000 ton destroyers in the future, which only the U.S., China, Japan and South Korea have ever achieved. The Choe Hyon class is the first destroyer class ever built for service in North Korea, and is expected to see at least four ships built, with the first ship of the class, the Choe Hyon, having been launched in April 2025. The destroyers displace approximately 5,000 tons, and are heavily armed, with each integrating 74 vertical launch cells, compared to 96 on the U.S. Navy Alreigh Burke class, 80 on the Zumwalt class, 64 on the Chinese Type 052D class, and 64 on the Russian Udaloy class. 

Built at the Chongjin Shipyard, the Kang Kon suffered a problematic launch in May 2025 that saw it capsize, although the North Korean shipbuilding industry managed to defy analysts’ expectations by re-floating the vessel the following month. On June 8 it was transported Rajin Shipyard for dry dock repairs, before being relaunched in June 12. The ship’s problematic launch is thought to have slightly delayed the commencement of sea trials. Compared to the Choe Hyon, the Kang Kon appears to be equipped with a new type of rocket launcher, possibly for anti-drone or anti-frogman purposes. Choe Hyon clas destroyers laid down after the Kang Kon are confirmed to have been designed with more vertical large cells, with space having been made by removing their primary gun, after officials questioned the utility of large guns for ocean-going surface destroyers. 

The Choe Hyon in early March conducted pre-commissioning trials that saw it carry out manoeuvrability and control tests and validate its combat systems. Tests included live fire launches of at least four missiles from its vertical launch cells. That month Chairman Kim announced that the Navy was on schedule to field 12 destroyers by the early 2030s, confirming a launch rate of two destroyers per year, which has placed North Korea’s shipbuilding industry ahead of U.S. production of 1.6 destroyers annually. A fleet of 12 destroyers, which is planned for 2032, will place the Korean People’s Army Navy ahead of India, which fields 11 destroyers, France which fields ten, Russia which fields nine, and the United Kingdom which fields six. The North Korean destroyers are considerable significantly more capable than their Russian and European counterparts, although their standings against destroyers built in the U.S. and other Northeast Asian countries remain less favourable.