North Korea's Largest Surface Combatant Undergoes Sea Trials
Choe Hyon-class Guided-Missile Destroyers, Including Kang Kon, Prepare for Navy Delivery
Quick Look
- North Korea's largest surface combatants, the Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyers, are undergoing sea trials.
- The lead ship, Choe Hyon, and the second, Kang Kon (which capsized and was relaunched), are set to join the navy despite skepticism over Kang Kon's condition after the incident.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
North Korea has been expanding its military capabilities in recent years.
The construction of Pyongyang’s Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, with a displacement of up to 5,000 tonnes, was first unveiled in December 2024. It is North Korea’s largest-ever surface combatant. Its first ship in the class, the Choe Hyon, was launched in April last year, while the second, the Kang Kon, was relaunched the following June after it capsized during its launch ceremony a month earlier. The two vessels are undergoing sea trials before being delivered to the North Korean navy. Despite wider scepticism about the extent of damage to the Kang Kon during the incident, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the sea trial of the vessel, state media reported last week.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Increased regional naval drills in response
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Final delivery timeline to the navy
- Extent of damage to Kang Kon
