Choe Hyon destroyer

Service And Conflict Use

1. Apr 25, 2025

   Launched

   The first Choe Hyon destroyer was launched at Nampho Shipyard.

   Sources: USNI News: North Korea Commissions First-in-class Destroyer Choe Hyon

2. Mar 6, 2026

   Sea trials and weapons tests

   The ship conducted cruise-missile and anti-ship missile test activity before commissioning.

   Sources: USNI News: North Korean Destroyer Tests Strategic Cruise Missile, USNI News: North Korea Test Launches Anti-ship, Cruise Missiles from First-in-class Destroyer

3. Jun 23, 2026

   Commissioned

   The destroyer entered North Korean naval service in a commissioning ceremony at Nampho.

   Sources: AP News: North Korea's Kim claims progress on nuclear-armed navy as new warship is placed into service, Al Jazeera gallery: North Korea commissions warship as Kim eyes nuclear navy

Choe Hyon destroyer Images

Related Weapon Systems

Naval SystemsType 051B / Luhai-class destroyerChinese People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer classThe Type 051B, also called the Luhai class, is a single-ship Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer class built around the destroyer Shenzhen (DDG 167). Open references describe it as an experimental, modular design from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company, intended to improve Chinese experience with stealthier construction, fleet command-and-control, and modern naval systems before later PLAN destroyer families matured.

Naval SystemsType 052B / Luyang I-class destroyerChinese People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer classThe Type 052B, also called the Luyang I-class destroyer, is a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer class built by Jiangnan Shipyard. It was the PLAN's first modern destroyer class to field a Russian Shtil-1 medium-range surface-to-air missile system, combining air-defense capability with anti-ship missiles, a helicopter deck and hangar, and a stealth-influenced hull design.

Naval SystemsType 052C / Luyang II-class destroyerChinese People's Liberation Army Navy air-defense destroyer classThe Type 052C, also known as the Luyang II-class destroyer, is a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer class built around long-range area air defense. Sources describe it as the PLAN's first warship class to combine fixed AESA radar with vertically launched HHQ-9 missiles, plus YJ-62 anti-ship missiles and a shipborne helicopter facility.

Naval SystemsKang Kon destroyerGuided-missile destroyerKang Kon is North Korea's second Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, a 5,000-ton warship launched after a failed first attempt and later shown at the Najin shipyard for repair and relaunch. Open-source reporting describes it as part of Kim Jong Un's effort to expand the Korean People's Navy into a larger blue-water and nuclear-armed force.

Naval SystemsProject 956E / 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyerRussian-built guided-missile destroyers exported to the Chinese People's Liberation Army NavyThe Project 956E and 956EM Sovremenny-class destroyers are Russian-built export guided-missile destroyers delivered to the People's Liberation Army Navy in two batches. The first pair were the 956E variant, and the later pair were the improved 956EM ships with updated combat systems and revised weapon fits for Chinese service.

Naval SystemsRiver-class destroyerGuided missile destroyerThe River-class destroyer is Canada's future guided-missile destroyer class, based on BAE Systems' Type 26 design and being built as the Royal Canadian Navy's major new surface combatant. Canadian program documents describe a 15-ship class intended to replace the retired Iroquois-class destroyers and Halifax-class frigates, with SPY-7 radar, an Aegis-linked CMS 330 combat system, and a 127 mm main gun.

Related News

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