Raised Destroyer Arrives at Najin

Key Findings

• On May 21, 2025, North Korea suffered a failed launch of its second Choe Hyon-class guided missile destroyer (DDGHM), the largest battleship developed by the regime. 
• Imagery from June 8 shows the new destroyer was transferred to the graving dock at the No. 28 Shipyard (also known as Rajin Dockyard or Rajin Ship Repair Factory) at Najin. 
• The severity of the damage to the vessel is unclear, but once any critical repairs or restoration work are completed, the vessel will likely be transferred to the shipyard’s fitting out dock, where its weapons and other systems will be installed and subsequently commissioned. 

Immediately following the failed launch and subsequent raising of the second Choe Hyon destroyer (DDGHM) at the Hambuk Shipyard in Chongjin, a special “field restoration promotion team” from the Central Military Commission conducted a detailed inspection of the vessel.¹ On June 5, 2025, the team reported its findings on the state of the vessel, which combined with the results of the accident “investigation group,” which announced plans to move the vessel to Najin for “next-stage elaborate restoration.”² Concurrent with these activities, the new destroyer was transferred to the graving dock at the No. 28 Shipyard (also known as Rajin Dockyard or Rajin Ship Repair Factory) at Najin (also known as Rajin/Rason) by June 8, 2025.  

Satellite images over the past two weeks show the shipyard at Najin preparing for the arrival of the DDGHM. A May 24 image of the graving dock showed five vessels present—one small tanker and four fishing vessels of various types. Images acquired on May 30 and June 1 show that these vessels had been removed, and that work on clearing the dock was underway. Subsequent imagery between June 2 and 6 were cloud covered, but an image collected on June 7 shows that the dock had been cleared and the caissons removed, allowing it to be flooded in preparation for the arrival of the destroyer.  

Subsequently, the June 8 image shows the destroyer positioned within the dock, the caissons back in position, and the water likely being pumped out so the vessel can rest on blocks. Critical parts of the destroyer, such as the vertical launch missile systems (VLS), forward gun turret mount, mast, and superstructure, are partially covered with netting to limit overhead visibility.  

Now that the vessel has safely arrived at Najin, the next stage in the restoration project will be “the reexamination of a group of experts into the overall hull of the destroyer.” It is unclear whether North Korean media’s statement that the “next stage elaborate restoration is to be carried out…for the period of 7-10 days” refers to the completion of “reexamination” or the completion of required repairs.³ If the latter, it would be an indication that the damage incurred during the launch was not significant.  

Once any critical repairs or restoration work are completed, the vessel will likely be transferred to the shipyard’s fitting out dock, where its weapons and other systems will be installed and subsequently commissioned.  

Aside from the presence of a graving dock, one of the primary reasons for bringing the new destroyer to the No. 28 Shipyard is that the shipyard has been the manufacturer/conversion of many of the Korean People’s Navy’s larger warships, including the Najin and Tumen class missile frigates FFG for over 40 years. One of the Najin-class FFGs has been based here since 2017.⁴