Another Guided Missile Destroyer Under Construction on the East Coast

Key Findings

• Satellite imagery acquired on May 12, 2025, shows that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGHM) is under construction at the Hambuk Shipyard in Chongjin, now uncovered from netting and revealing a 144-meter-long hull with external characteristics resembling the first of its class launched at Nampo last month. 
• The vessel under construction at Chongjin appears to be configured with vertical launch missile systems (VLS) likely equipped with a combination of anti-air, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-ballistic missile capabilities as well as land attack cruise missile (LACM) and tactical ballistic missile.  
• During the launching ceremony on April 25, Kim Jong-un stated his plans for building more of the same class of warships. This second vessel is the fruition of such plans and indicates Kim’s high interest in and support of the program. 
• Should the additional Choe Hyon-class DDGHMs prove to be successful, the class will likely consist of at least four vessels, with two each being subordinate to the East Sea (Tonghae) and West Sea (Sohae) Fleets.  
• Considering that the Hambuk Shipyard at Chongjin is primarily known for producing cargo and fishing vessels, the construction of the DDGHM here likely reflects a broader and directed effort by North Korea to expand and diversify the scale and geographical distribution of its naval production capabilities. 

Satellite imagery acquired on May 12, 2025, of the Hambuk Shipyard at Chongjin on the country’s east coast shows that the second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of the guided missile destroyers (DDGHM) is under construction. The vessel was under construction throughout 2024 and remained covered by netting for roughly four months, during which the construction progressed and revealed key features needed for identification.¹

However, the latest image shows the vessel uncovered from the netting, revealing a 144-meter vessel whose external characteristics resemble those of the first Choe Hyon DDGHM launched at Nampo on April 25, 2025. During the launching ceremony, Kim Jong-un stated plans for building more of the same class of warships.² This second vessel is the fruition of such plans and indicates Kim’s high interest in and support of the program.  

Construction of the Second DDGHM at Chongjin

Parts for the vessel’s construction were initially observed on the outdoor construction way at Hambuk shipyard in the spring of 2024, with sections of the vessel visible by May 2024. By January 2025, the construction’s significant progress was covered by netting to limit overhead visibility. However, the May 12, 2025, image shows the vessel to be the same size and configuration as the Choe Hyon launched at Nampo last month.  

The vessel under construction at Chongjin appears to be configured like the Choe Hyon, with vertical launch missile systems (VLS) likely equipped with a combination of anti-air, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-ballistic missile capabilities as well as land attack cruise missile (LACM) and tactical ballistic missile. The new vessel’s name is unknown but will likely be named after other anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters, as stated by Kim during the April 25 speech.³

The construction of the vessel at Chongjin, located on the east coast of the country, resolves questions raised by Kim’s speech last month, which mentioned plans for the East Sea Fleet of the Korean People’s Navy (KPN) to receive and operate the new-type destroyer.⁴ This statement initially raised questions about the feasibility of Choe Hyon’s deployment to the east coast, as the first vessel was constructed and currently located at Nampo Navy Shipyard on the country’s west coast. A subsequent transfer of the Choe Hyon at Nampo to the East Sea would have necessitated a cruise around the Korean Peninsula, something not typically undertaken by the KPN.  

This makes it more likely that the second vessel under construction at Chongjin, once launched and operational, will serve as part of the KPN’s East Sea Fleet. Should the additional Choe Hyon-class DDGHMs prove to be successful, the class will likely consist of at least four vessels, with two each being subordinate to East Sea (Tonghae) and West Sea (Sohae) Fleets.

These Choe Hyon-class vessels, in combination with new ballistic missile submarines (SSB) and potentially nuclear-powered submarines (SSN), can expand North Korea’s missile threat significantly and further complicate the missile defense in the region. 

Naval Production Capabilities at Chongjin

Finally, it is unusual that the construction of the new DDGHM is taking place at Chongjin’s Hambuk Shipyard. While the shipyard has previously manufactured submersible infiltration craft, small patrol craft, and, on occasion, worked on Sango-class (SSC) submarines, it is known to have primarily concentrated on producing cargo vessels, fishing vessels, and dredgers. The utilization of this shipyard for a warship of this size likely reflects a broader and directed effort by North Korea to expand and diversify the scale and geographical distribution of its naval production capabilities.