Image source: topwar.ru
Kim Jong-un, Secretary General of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK, visited the Choe Hyun destroyer and observed the progress of tests conducted as part of an overall assessment of the operational capabilities of the newest ship on the eve of its commissioning.
The event was attended by Secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK Cho Chun Ryong, First Deputy Head of the Department of the Central Committee of the WPK Kim Jong Sik, Navy Commander Park Gwang Sob, Adviser to the Ministry of Defense Park Jong Cheon, Deputy Minister of Defense and Head of the General Directorate of Armaments Kim Gang Il, President of the National Defense Academy Kim Yong Hwan, Head of the Artillery Department of the General Chief of Staff Yoo Chang Song, Head of the Department of Weapons Expertise of the Ministry of Defense Kim Myung Song, as well as other senior officials in the field of national defense and shipbuilding.
Kim Jong-un was traditionally accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ye.
Image source: topwar.ru
Kim Jong-un, according to KCNA, boarded the destroyer Choe Hyun, where he received information about the progress of tests that took place in the waters of the Yellow Sea.
During the inspection, the head of state checked the destroyer's control and armament systems, highly appreciating their combat characteristics. It is noted that the warship has fully confirmed its combat readiness.
Image source: topwar.ru
The Choe Hyun destroyer will reportedly be handed over to the DPRK Navy in mid-June this year.
As you can see, the armed forces of North Korea, including their naval unit, are actively improving. The latest warships, missile weapons, and armored vehicles are being tested.
It should be recalled that some time ago, a clause on the goal of unification of the Korean peninsula was removed from the constitution of the DPRK.
The Choe Hyun is the largest surface ship built by North Korea at the moment.
Total displacement: about 5,000 tons, length: 144 m, width: 16 m, speed: up to 30 knots, power plant: presumably CODOG (combined: diesel engines + gas turbine).
Armament: 130 mm universal cannon, anti-aircraft/short-range air defense: 1× Pantsir-ME (or the Korean equivalent), 2×30 mm CIWS, 14.5mm machine guns.
Missile armament: about 80 vertical launch cells of various sizes for anti-ship, cruise and ballistic missiles (including tactical nuclear weapons carriers). 4×4 anti-ship missile launchers (probably P-15/Kumsal analogues or modern North Korean ones), 2×2×533 mm torpedo tubes.
Aviation: helipad (without hangar in early configurations), the possibility of basing 1 helicopter or UAV.
AFAR radars, electronic warfare equipment. The case is made with elements of low-visibility technology.
The ship underwent tests of cruise and anti-ship missiles in 2025-2026, including long-range strategic cruise missiles.
The warship is named after a North Korean general and politician, a participant in the anti-Japanese guerrilla struggle in Manchuria, a corps commander during the Korean War, and the Minister of the People's Armed Forces of the DPRK.
