North Korea Commissions Second Choe Hyon-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer

Key Points:

• North Korea commissioned its second 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer, Kang Kon, on September 6, 2026, in Wonsan, with leader Kim Jong Un attending the ceremony alongside senior officials.
• The Choe Hyon-class destroyers, including Kang Kon and the earlier Choe Hyon, are the largest and most advanced warships ever operated by the North Korean navy, featuring modern electronic warfare systems and phased-array radars.
• Kang Kon carries a formidable missile arsenal with 88 vertical launch system cells, eight inclined launchers, and additional short-range missiles, totaling up to 104 missiles capable of anti-ship, anti-aircraft, and land-attack roles, some reportedly nuclear-capable.
• The commissioning of these destroyers signals Pyongyang’s ambition to develop a blue-water navy with enhanced power projection, moving beyond coastal defense, and plans are underway for larger guided-missile cruisers with twice the displacement.
• Despite Kang Kon previously capsizing during its launch in May 2025, it was successfully commissioned just over a year later, highlighting North Korea’s rapid naval modernization efforts and strategic emphasis on strengthening its naval forces.