Overview
- State-run KCNA announced construction of a third 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer with a completion deadline of October 10, 2026
- Workers at Nampho Shipyard held a rally vowing to meet the anniversary-linked timeline to bolster the ruling party’s military objectives
- In June, Kim Jong Un ordered the navy to build two Kang Kon-class or larger destroyers each year starting in 2026
- Officials describe the vessel program as a means to expand North Korea’s sea-based nuclear and missile delivery platforms
- Seoul’s military reports suggest the destroyer designs and weapons systems may rely on Russian technical assistance