Second Choe Hyon Destroyer at Chongjin Raised
A satellite image acquired earlier today, June 5, 2025, shows that North Korea has successfully completed initial salvage operations on the second Choe Hyon-class DDGHM. The vessel is now upright and moored in the center of O-Hang harbor.
As best can be presently determined, the vessel may be listing slightly to port, numerous small marine salvage balloons are visible alongside and aboard the vessel, and what appears to be a large lift bag or temporary ramp is visible on the slide slipway. The slight listing and presence of the balloons suggest that the salvage operation is not complete, with continued pumping, stabilization, and refurbishment operations remaining. It remains unclear whether the vessel will remain at the Hambuk Shipyard at Chongjin or be moved to another shipyard for this work, fitting-out, and subsequent commissioning.
The official May 25 estimate that the initial salvage work would take “…10-odd days to restore the warship’s side” was relatively accurate, as it took 13 days to raise the vessel.1
While one crane barge remains alongside the side slipway, the other crane barge and many of the support vessels used for the salvage operations are now tied up along the north side of the harbor. The dredging operations previously observed within the harbor’s entrance channel appear to be in their final stages.
No additional information has been released by North Korea concerning either the accident investigation or the fate of the previously named officials:2
- Ri Hyong-son, deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea Munitions Industry Department
- Kang Jong Chol, chief engineer of the Chongjin Shipyard
- Han Kyong Hak, head of the hull construction workshop
- Kim Yong Hak, deputy manager for administrative affairs
Given what is known of North Korean investigations of this type, there are likely other unnamed individuals under investigation.