In May 2025, a 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer sank during its launch at North Korea’s Chongjin shipyard, dealing a blow to Kim Jong Un’s naval ambitions. The accident, caused by a faulty side launch and operational negligence, damaged the hull, delaying the warship’s debut. Kim condemned the failure as a “criminal act,” vowing to restore the vessel before a June Workers’ Party meeting. Equipped with nuclear-capable missiles and possibly aided by Russia, the destroyer aimed to boost North Korea’s navy. Satellite imagery confirmed the wreckage, highlighting technical issues. The incident exposes challenges in North Korea’s military modernization, but Kim’s resolve signals continued naval focus.
Long Version
On May 21, 2025, a catastrophic accident at the Chongjin shipyard in North Korea’s northeastern port city marked a significant setback for the country’s naval modernization efforts. A newly constructed 5,000-ton destroyer, believed to be part of the Choe Hyon-class, was severely damaged during its launch ceremony, an event personally overseen by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. Described by state media as a “serious accident” and a “criminal act,” the incident has drawn global attention, highlighting both the ambitions and vulnerabilities of North Korea’s military aspirations. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the event, weaving together technical details, political ramifications, and geopolitical context, while incorporating all relevant keywords to deliver an authoritative resource on the subject.
The Incident: A Disastrous Side Launch
The failed launch occurred at the Hambuk Shipyard in Chongjin’s O-hang harbor, where the second Choe Hyon-class guided missile destroyer (DDGHM) was being unveiled. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the accident stemmed from “inexperienced command and operational carelessness.” During the side launch—a method typically used for smaller commercial vessels but unproven for a warship of this scale—the vessel’s stern slid prematurely into the water. The transport cradle, a critical component meant to support the ship’s weight as it moved down the launch slide, failed to move in parallel with the vessel. This caused the bogies (wheeled units under the frame) to catch or fall off the rails, disrupting the ship’s balance.
As a result, the destroyer’s hull was “crushed” and punctured in several sections, with the stern swinging out into the harbor while the bow remained stranded on the slipway. Satellite imagery from May 22, 2025, provided by Planet Labs PBC and Maxar Technologies, confirmed the extent of the damage, showing the vessel lying on its side, partially submerged, and draped in blue tarpaulin in an apparent attempt to conceal the wreckage from prying eyes. The imagery revealed a chaotic scene, with support vessels and a crane barge surrounding the crippled destroyer, underscoring the severity of the operational negligence.
Naval analysts have described the damage as potentially “catastrophic.” Sal Mercogliano, a maritime expert at Campbell University, noted that if the ship does not move uniformly during a launch, “the stresses will tear the hull apart.” While KCNA later reported on May 23 that the damage was less severe than initially estimated, with “no holes in the hull” but scratches along the starboard side, experts remain skeptical about the ship’s immediate operational viability. The incident has delayed North Korea’s plans to commission the destroyer, which was slated to enter service early in 2026.
The Choe Hyon-Class: North Korea’s Naval Pride
The damaged vessel is believed to be the second in the Choe Hyon-class, named after a famed Korean guerrilla fighter who battled Japanese colonial forces in the 1930s and was a close ally of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung. The first Choe Hyon-class destroyer was successfully launched on April 25, 2025, at the Nampo shipyard on North Korea’s west coast, an event Kim Jong Un hailed as a “breakthrough in modernization” for the Korean People’s Navy (KPN). State media described the 5,000-ton multipurpose warship as the largest and most advanced in North Korea’s arsenal, surpassing the previous largest vessel, a 1,360-ton frigate.
The Choe Hyon-class is designed to significantly enhance North Korea’s naval capabilities, transitioning the KPN from a coastal defense force to a nascent blue-water navy capable of strategic offensive operations. The destroyer is equipped with an array of advanced weaponry, including anti-aircraft, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-ballistic missile systems, as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Analysts speculate that the ship may house a vertical launch system (VLS) capable of firing short-range tactical nuclear missiles, though North Korea has yet to demonstrate the ability to miniaturize its atomic bombs for such purposes. The vessel’s radar and missile systems bear similarities to those found on Russian warships, fueling speculation of Russian assistance in its development.
Kim Jong Un has framed the Choe Hyon-class as a cornerstone of his naval advancement program, aimed at expanding the military’s operational range and preemptive strike capabilities. In a 2023 speech, he declared that “a new historic time is coming before our naval forces,” emphasizing the need to project power beyond North Korea’s territorial waters. The successful launch of the first Choe Hyon destroyer in April was accompanied by extravagant fanfare, with Kim personally overseeing missile tests from the vessel. The second destroyer was intended to build on this momentum, but its failure has cast doubt on North Korea’s ability to scale its navy rapidly.
Kim Jong Un’s Fury: A Political and Symbolic Crisis
The botched launch was not merely a technical failure but a profound embarrassment for Kim Jong Un, who attended the ceremony alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, widely seen as a potential successor. KCNA reported that Kim condemned the incident as a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism,” asserting that it “brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse in a moment.” He labeled the mishap a “political issue directly related to the authority of the state,” vowing to hold those responsible accountable at a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea scheduled for late June 2025.
Kim’s rhetoric reflects the high stakes he has placed on naval modernization as a symbol of national dignity and military prowess. He censured multiple state institutions, including the Munitions Industry Department, the Mechanical Institute of the State Academy of Sciences, the Central Ship Design Institute, Kim Chaek University of Technology, and the Chongjin Shipyard, for their roles in the “irresponsible errors.” His demand for the destroyer’s immediate restoration before the June party meeting underscores the urgency he attaches to salvaging both the ship and his regime’s reputation.
The public acknowledgment of the failure is unusual for North Korea, which typically conceals military setbacks to maintain an image of invincibility. Analysts suggest that Kim’s transparency in this case serves multiple purposes: it reinforces his commitment to naval advancement, signals resolve to address internal failures, and boosts discipline among military and scientific cadres. However, the incident has also invited ridicule on platforms like X, where users have speculated about executions and mocked the regime’s incompetence, reflecting broader international skepticism about North Korea’s capabilities.
Technical and Operational Challenges
The side launch method employed for the destroyer’s unveiling was a risky choice, particularly for a 5,000-ton warship. Unlike the floating dry dock used for the first Choe Hyon-class launch in Nampo, the side launch at Chongjin relied on a transport cradle and bogies to guide the vessel down a slipway into the water. This technique, while cost-effective, requires precise coordination to prevent the ship from tipping or sustaining structural damage. The failure of the bogies to move in sync with the ship’s stern suggests a lack of expertise or inadequate preparation, as noted in KCNA’s reference to “unscientific empiricism.”
Satellite imagery from May 12, 2025, had already indicated that North Korea was constructing a second Choe Hyon-class destroyer at the Chongjin shipyard, with the vessel positioned on the quay and missile tube magazines exposed. The decision to rush the launch, possibly to align with Kim’s ambitious timeline for naval expansion, may have contributed to the operational negligence. The damaged destroyer, now leaning on its starboard side with its bow stranded on the slipway, faces an uncertain future. While Kim has ordered its restoration, naval analysts warn that the hull damage could render the vessel a “complete loss” or delay its commissioning indefinitely.
Geopolitical Context: Russian Assistance and Regional Tensions
The Choe Hyon-class destroyers are widely believed to have been developed with Russian assistance, a reflection of deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. South Korean military officials and experts, including Ahn Chan-il of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, have pointed to Chongjin’s proximity to the Russian port of Vladivostok as evidence of potential collaboration. North Korea’s deployment of 11,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine has reportedly been reciprocated with financial aid and advanced military technology, including assistance with satellite and ballistic missile programs. The Choe Hyon’s radar and missile systems, which resemble those on Russian vessels, further support this hypothesis.
The failed launch comes at a time of heightened regional tensions. Hours after the incident, North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles into the Sea of Japan, a move interpreted as a show of defiance amid the embarrassment. Kim has framed his naval buildup as a response to perceived threats from the United States and South Korea, which have expanded joint military exercises to counter North Korea’s advancing nuclear program. The Choe Hyon-class, with its potential to carry nuclear-capable missiles, represents a significant escalation in North Korea’s offensive and defensive capabilities, even if its naval forces remain inferior to those of its rivals.
North Korea’s broader naval ambitions include the development of a nuclear-powered submarine and underwater nuclear attack drones, projects that Kim has touted as critical to his strategic deterrence. The successful launch of the Hero Kim Kun Ok, a redesigned Soviet-era ballistic missile submarine, in 2023, and the April 2025 unveiling of the first Choe Hyon destroyer, had bolstered Pyongyang’s confidence. However, the Chongjin accident underscores the technical and logistical challenges of realizing these ambitions, particularly under the pressure of Kim’s aggressive timelines.
Implications for North Korea’s Naval Modernization
The failed launch is a significant setback for North Korea’s most ambitious naval modernization effort in decades. The Choe Hyon-class was intended to serve as the backbone of a new class of destroyers, with Kim expressing aspirations to build additional cruisers and frigates. The loss of the second destroyer, even if temporary, could compromise planned deployments, particularly in the Sea of Japan, where the Nampo-based Choe Hyon would need to navigate around South Korea to reach operational areas.
The incident also raises questions about the reliability of North Korea’s military-industrial complex. The involvement of prestigious institutions like Kim Chaek University of Technology, where many of North Korea’s nuclear scientists are trained, highlights the systemic issues of inexperience and inadequate oversight. Kim’s demand for a full investigation and repairs within a month places immense pressure on naval engineers, who must contend with limited resources and international sanctions that restrict access to advanced technology.
For the United States, South Korea, and their allies, the failed launch offers a temporary reprieve but does not diminish the long-term threat posed by North Korea’s naval advancements. A fully operational Choe Hyon-class destroyer, equipped with nuclear-capable missiles and advanced radar, would enhance Pyongyang’s ability to project power and conduct preemptive strikes, altering the security dynamics of the Korean Peninsula and the broader region. The possibility of Russian assistance further complicates the strategic calculus, as it suggests a growing alignment between two adversaries of the West.
Conclusion: A Test of Resilience and Resolve
The botched launch of North Korea’s second Choe Hyon-class destroyer is more than a technical mishap; it is a blow to Kim Jong Un’s vision of a modern, nuclear-armed navy capable of challenging regional powers. The incident, marked by operational negligence and a flawed side launch, has exposed vulnerabilities in North Korea’s military ambitions, from inexperienced command to inadequate infrastructure. Yet, Kim’s public condemnation and insistence on rapid restoration signal his determination to overcome this setback, framing it as a matter of national dignity and political authority.
As satellite imagery continues to reveal the extent of the damage—hidden beneath blue tarpaulins—and international observers monitor North Korea’s next moves, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between ambition and capability. For now, the crippled destroyer lies as a symbol of both Kim’s lofty goals and the challenges of achieving them in a resource-constrained, heavily sanctioned state. Whether North Korea can salvage the vessel and its naval program remains to be seen, but the world will be watching closely as the Workers’ Party plenary meeting in June approaches, potentially shaping the future of Pyongyang’s maritime aspirations.
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