Kang Kon destroyer relaunch confirms North Korea’s ambition to project naval power deeper into Pacific region.

On June 13, 2025, North Korea relaunched its second Choe Hyon-class destroyer, named Kang Kon, during a formal ceremony held in the northeastern port of Rason. The destroyer carries hull number 52 and is named after Kang Kon, the first Chief of General Staff of the Korean People’s Army and a key figure in North Korea’s anti-Japanese revolutionary legacy. The launch took place less than one month after a failed attempt at the Chongjin shipyard, where the same ship was damaged during the initial slipway procedure.
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Kang Kon is the second known unit of the Choe Hyon-class destroyer, following the earlier Choe Hyon, which had previously been identified as the largest surface combatant ever constructed by the Korean People’s Navy. (Picture source: KCNA)

According to North Korean sources, the vessel was repaired and then moved to Rason for relaunch. North Korean media presented this ceremony as a demonstration of uninterrupted progress in naval shipbuilding and a step toward the country’s broader goal to build larger surface warships capable of operating across extended maritime areas, including the Pacific.

The failed launch in Chongjin occurred in May 2025 and was documented through satellite imagery that showed the destroyer misaligned on the slipway, with possible hull damage. North Korean media did not acknowledge the failure, but within several weeks, the ship was transferred to Rason, a port with deeper water access and more suitable infrastructure for handling large surface vessels. At Rason, a second launch ceremony was organized and broadcast domestically. During the event, officials confirmed that the vessel had been repaired and relaunched, portraying the program as back on schedule. The absence of details on the nature of the damage or the repair process suggests a deliberate focus on symbolic recovery rather than technical transparency. The rapid sequence from failure to relaunch indicates an effort to maintain public and political momentum around the shipbuilding effort.

Kang Kon is the second known unit of the Choe Hyon-class destroyer, following the earlier Choe Hyon, which had previously been identified as the largest surface combatant ever constructed by the Korean People’s Navy. Both ships are estimated to displace around 5,000 tonnes. This figure is based on external imagery, as no official specifications have been published. The design features an elevated deckhouse, extensive superstructure, and potential fittings for missile launchers and radar equipment. Open-source analysis suggests the possibility of phased array radar and vertical or angled launch systems, though no configuration has been verified. Some state-affiliated North Korean sources have described the class as multi-mission capable, able to engage surface, aerial, and submarine targets, but these claims remain unconfirmed. No sea trials or testing of systems have been publicly documented for either ship of the class.

The launch of Kang Kon was presented as part of a broader naval strategy aimed at expanding the number and capability of North Korea’s warships. Statements made during the ceremony in Rason reiterated the country’s intention to continue constructing large surface combatants as part of a shift from coastal defense toward extended maritime coverage. While North Korea has not disclosed details on how many additional vessels will be built or when they might be launched, officials indicated that further units may be under consideration. The naming of the destroyer after Kang Kon mirrors the approach taken with the Choe Hyon, which was named after a former Minister of the People’s Armed Forces. These naming conventions are consistent with North Korea’s broader messaging strategy, which seeks to link modern military programs to historical revolutionary figures and the ideological heritage of the Korean People’s Army.

The decision to move the launch from Chongjin to Rason likely involved both practical and symbolic considerations. Rason’s port infrastructure is better suited to launching vessels of this size, with deeper water and improved handling capacity. Relocating the launch also distanced the second ceremony from the site of the earlier failure, allowing authorities to reset the narrative without referencing the previous mishap. The rapid organization of a new launch, combined with the omission of the failed attempt from state media, highlights the importance placed on controlling public perception of military progress. However, there has been no confirmation that Kang Kon has been commissioned or assigned to an operational unit. There is also no evidence from satellite imagery or public video that the ship has undertaken sea trials or has been integrated into active naval formations.

North Korean media has not announced any additional hulls in the Choe Hyon-class, and no further units have been detected by external monitoring as of mid-June 2025. Nonetheless, the near-consecutive appearances of the Choe Hyon and Kang Kon suggest that the vessels are part of a deliberate class-production effort rather than isolated prototypes. State messaging continues to reference future naval construction and the importance of large warships for national defense. Some reports imply that future operations could extend beyond the country’s immediate coastal areas, with broader regional reach potentially including the Pacific. However, no specific deployment zones have been confirmed. While the Kang Kon has now been launched, no operational capabilities, armament types, or mission schedules have been publicly disclosed, and its current status remains that of a newly relaunched platform awaiting further development or confirmation of its role within the fleet.