Overview

• The 5,000-ton Choe Hyon was damaged during its May 21 launch, prompting Kim Jong-un to deem the accident a “criminal act caused by total negligence” and order the arrest of four officials.
• State media reports and satellite imagery confirm the destroyer was upright and partially refloated by June 5 after less than a month of repair work.
• Innovative use of aerostatic balloons and combined labor enabled the rapid restoration, although interior compartments and electronics still need desalination and cleaning.
• North Korea will transfer the vessel to a Rajin dry dock for detailed inspections and final outfitting ahead of its planned 2026 commissioning.
• The Choe Hyon is designed to carry tactical nuclear missiles as the lead ship in a four-vessel class, and South Korean military analysts suggest Russia may have assisted its construction in exchange for potential North Korean support in Ukraine.