North Korea’s Record-Built Destroyer Tests Weapons, Including Missiles

North Korea conducted comprehensive tests of missile and artillery weaponry on the newly built Choi Hyun multipurpose destroyer.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on this.

The tests were conducted near the shipyard where the destroyer was built and where the official launching ceremony took place.

During the tests, the ship’s systems demonstrated the ability to launch surface-to-air, cruise, and anti-ship missiles. Gun systems were also tested, including a 127mm automatic cannon and an anti-aircraft system.

According to the published photographs, launches were conducted from both the forward and aft vertical launch cells, from which surface-to-air missiles were fired. The Hwasal-2 missiles, placed in separate transport-launch containers in the middle of the ship, were also tested.

The operation of the launch systems for countermeasure devices was also demonstrated.

It is worth noting that in the photographs taken after the tests, it is noticeable that the missile launches took place from smaller-diameter cells, leaving soot marks around them. At the same time, the larger-diameter cells were likely not used.

These photos also confirmed that the smaller-diameter cells can be used for one type of missile — surface-to-air missiles. In contrast, the larger-diameter cells are likely intended for launching medium-range ballistic missiles.

One of the photos also shows a radar guidance station, rotated, located on the ship’s superstructure. It could have been used for both fire control during 127mm cannon fire and for guiding surface-to-air missiles.

It is worth noting that the tests took place three days after the official launching ceremony of the ship on April 25, 2025, at the Nampo Shipyard, where it was built in a record 400 days for North Korea.

The launched ship is officially classified as a multipurpose destroyer with a displacement of 5,000 tons and an extended range of missile armament.

The first mentions of the construction of an unknown North Korean ship appeared back in May 2024, when satellite images of the Nampo shipyard were published, showing parts of the ship’s hull.

According to the published photos, the ship is equipped with vertical launch systems, which are likely not universal, as they are presented in two types: larger ones for strike weapons and smaller ones for air defense missiles. The total number of cells is 74.