North Korea Tests Second Choe Hyon-Class Destroyer Following Earlier Hull Crack

The North Korean navy conducted live-fire tests of a new Choe Hyon-class destroyer.

The relevant photos were published by the KPA.bot project.

According to North Korean state media, the tests took place on March 3–4 and were attended by dictator Kim Jong Un.

During this period, the ship underwent sea trials and live-fire tests, which included mass launches of cruise missiles.

It should be noted that this is the second destroyer of this type. During its launch in May last year, an accident occurred, damaging the ship’s hull.

At that time, during the launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer, the parallel movement of the launch carriages was not ensured. As a result, the stern of the ship prematurely left the carriages and ran aground, while the bow remained on the slipway. The accident caused holes in some areas of the bottom.

3月3、4の両日に金正恩総書記が駆逐艦「崔賢」号を訪れて就役を控えて進行中の艦の作戦遂行能力評価試験工程を確認。駆逐艦が初の自力航行。兵器システムの系統別服務準備実態確認や航海試験を行い、建造中の「崔賢」級駆逐艦第3号艦の建造状況を確かめた。 pic.twitter.com/hm4OeTtL30

— 朝鮮人民軍bot (@KPA_bot) March 4, 2026

Kim Jong Un blamed the incident on the Party Central Committee’s Department of Defense Industry, Kim Chaek University of Technology, the Central Ship Design Institute, the Chongjin Shipyard, and their officials.

Kim Jong Un stressed that the restoration of the destroyer must be completed before the June plenum of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, emphasizing that this issue is of political importance and concerns the prestige of the state.

In July 2025, the North Korean leadership announced plans to build a third ship of this type within a year, by October 10.

Choe Hyon

The 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class ships are multi-purpose missile destroyers of the North Korean navy. They are equipped with two types of vertical launchers: larger ones for strike weapons and smaller ones for air defense missiles. The total number of launch cells is 74.

The ship’s artillery armament includes a 127 mm automatic gun, as well as a close-range anti-aircraft artillery complex, which visually resembles the Soviet 30 mm AK-230 and AK-630 systems.

Air defense is provided by a North Korean anti-aircraft gun complex located in the stern of the ship. In appearance, it resembles the Russian Pantsir-M.

Anti-ship and strike weapons are housed in transport and launch containers on both sides. It probably includes eight Hwasal-2 cruise missiles capable of hitting moving targets. In addition, four launchers for the North Korean analogue of the Spike ER/NLOS missiles are installed on each side.

There are also twin 533 mm torpedo tubes on both sides, partially covered by a radio-absorbing structure.

The radar system consists of four panel antennas, which, judging by their design, are manufactured using active phased array antenna (AFAR) technology. They perform multifunctional tasks, from monitoring airspace to guiding weapons.

Another interesting feature of the Choe Hyong class ships is the installation of separate radar antennas at the bow and stern for guiding anti-aircraft missiles. This probably indicates the use of radio-command guided missiles, similar to those used in the Tor anti-aircraft missile system.