Choe Hyon-class destroyer
Class of North Korean destroyers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Choe Hyon-class destroyer (Korean: 《최현》급다목적구축함)[7] is a class of guided-missile destroyers of the Korean People's Navy (KPN). The first vessel, the Choe Hyon, was unveiled by the Korean People's Army on 30 December 2024. The second ship, Kang Kon, capsized during launch but was eventually restored to upright position and relaunched on 12 June 2025.[citation needed]
- Nampo Shipyard
- Hambuk Shipyard
Korean People's Navy| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders |
|
| Operators | Korean People's Navy |
| Built | 2024–present |
| In commission | 2025–present |
| Planned | 4 |
| Building | 1 |
| Completed | 2 |
| Active | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Displacement | 5,000 t (4,900 long tons) |
| Length | ~144–145 metres (472 ft 5 in – 475 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | ~16 m (52 ft 6 in) |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 × helicopter or UAV |
| Aviation facilities | Flight deck |
| Notes | References[2][3][4][5][6] |
History
During Kim Jong Un's visit to the Nampo Shipyard in February 2024, the North Korean leader said that increasing the country's naval power is the most important issue in defending its seas, and pushed ahead with the planned warships building, completing them by the end of current Five-Year Plan in January 2026. The Choe Hyon class is likely part of the warship building program.[8]
On 25 April 2025, Choe Hyon was launched.[9][10]
On 12 June, when the second ship launched, Kim Jong Un approved a plan to build two more 5,000-ton destroyers in 2026.[11][12] A month later, on 21 July 2025, workers of Nampo Shipyard committed construction of the third ship, which will be completed on the 81st Party Foundation Day in October 2026.[13][14]
On April 15, 2025, Kim Jong-un claimed that construction of a fourth Choe Hyon ship has started.[15]
Development
Name
The lead ship was named after Choe Hyon, a North Korean general who served as a general in the Northeast Counter-Japanese United Army and later became the Minister of the People's Armed Forces of North Korea.[16][17] The second ship was named after Korean War general Kang Kon.[18]
Design
It is the first surface vessel in the Korean People's Navy to be equipped with a phased array radar and a vertical launching system.[9]
Ships in the class
See also
Equivalent destroyers of the same era