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Choe Hyon-class destroyer

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Class overview
BuildersNampo Shipyard
Operators Korean People's Navy
Built2024–present
In commission2025–present
Planned4
Building2
Completed2
Active2
General characteristics
TypeDestroyer
Displacement5,000 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
  • Phased array radars
  • Type 362 air/surface search radar
  • 3 × fire-control radars
  • 2 × navigation radars
  • Hull-mounted sonar
  • IFF system
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • 4 × countermeasures dispensers
  • R-ESM
  • R-ECM
Armament
  • 1 × 127 mm (5.0 in) or 130 mm (5.1 in) naval gun
  • 1 × Pantsir-ME CIWS
  • 2 × 30 mm AK-630 CIWS
  • 74 × VLS cells of various sizes for guided missiles
  • 4 × 4 anti-ship missile launchers
  • 4 × 4 Bulsae-4 launchers
  • 2 × 2 533 mm (21.0 in) DTA-53 torpedo launchers
Aircraft carried1 × helicopter or UAV
Aviation facilitiesFlight deck
NotesReferences[1][2][3][4][5]

The Choe Hyon-class destroyer (Korean: 《최현》급다목적구축함)[6] 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 launched on 12 June 2025.

History

[edit]

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.[7]

On 25 April 2025, Choe Hyon was launched.[8][9]

On 12 June, when the second ship launched, Kim Jong Un approved a plan to build two more 5,000-ton destroyers in 2026.[10][11]

Development

[edit]

Name

[edit]

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.[12][13] The second ship was named after Korean War general Kang Kon.[14]

Design

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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.[8]

Ships in the class

[edit]
Name Hull no. Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
Choe Hyon 51 Nampo Shipyard, Nampo May 2024 25 April 2025 On trials
Kang Kon 52 Hambuk Shipyard, Chongjin 12 June 2025[11] On trials

References

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  1. ^ Zwirko, Colin (26 April 2025). Talman, Kristen (ed.). "North Korea launches largest new warship, states aim to sail beyond peninsula". nknews.org. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  2. ^ Zwirko, Colin (18 February 2025). Hill, Alannah (ed.). "North Korea building second warship of largest new class on east coast: Report". nknews.org. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  3. ^ Rahmat, Ridzwan (30 April 2025). "North Korea carries out tests of new destroyer's weapons". Janes.
  4. ^ Mitsopoulos, Dimitris (30 December 2024). "North Korea Unveils Advanced Frigate Design Likely Equipped with Guided Missiles". navalnews.com. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  5. ^ Luck, Alex; Mitsopoulos, Dimitris (28 April 2025). "North Korea Commissions Heavily Armed Missile Destroyer "Choe Hyon"". navalnews.com. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  6. ^ "경애하는 김정은동지께서 조선인민군 해군 구축함 진수기념식에서 하신 연설". vok.rep.kp. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  7. ^ Newdick, Thomas (30 December 2024). "North Korea's New Warship Appears To Be Designed For Vertical Launch System, Phased Array Radar". TWZ.com. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  8. ^ a b "North Korea Launches New 5,000-Tonne Warship With "Most Powerful Weapons"". NDTV. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  9. ^ Zwirko, Colin (25 April 2025). "North Korea launches largest new warship, states aim to sail beyond peninsula". NK News. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Revolution in Warship-building Industry in New Era and Vigorous Advance and Development in Modernization of Naval Forces Ceremony of Launching Destroyer of KPA Navy Takes Place with Splendor". Korean Central News Agency. Korean Central News Agency. 13 June 2025.
  11. ^ a b Boram, Park (13 June 2025). "N. Korea's damaged warship launched 23 days after failed first attempt". Yonhap News Agency.
  12. ^ Yim, Hyunsu (26 April 2025). "North Korea unveils new 'Kim Jong Un style' 5,000-tonne warship". Reuters. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  13. ^ "North Korea unveils new 'Kim Jong Un style' 5,000-tonne warship". The Straits Times. 26 April 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  14. ^ Mackenzie, Jean; Guinto, Joel (13 June 2025). "North Korea claims warship launch successful on second try". BBC.com. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
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