North Korea has commissioned its second modern guided-missile destroyer, the Kang Kon, more than a year after the warship capsized during its launch in May 2025.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the commissioning ceremony on Sunday and described the vessel’s completion as a demonstration of the country’s determination and military strength.
According to state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said the nuclear-capable warship would strengthen North Korea’s deterrence against its enemies and described its commissioning as a “historic event” for the country’s navy.
The Kang Kon is the second destroyer in North Korea’s Choe Hyon-class, with a displacement of about 5,000 tonnes, making the vessels the largest warships ever built by the country.
The destroyer suffered major damage during its launch in May 2025 when a malfunction caused its stern to slide prematurely into the water. Parts of the hull were crushed while the bow remained stranded on the shipway.
The incident angered Kim, who described the failed launch as a “criminal act.” North Korean state media later reported that the damage was less severe than initially feared.
The first Choe Hyon-class destroyer was commissioned in June, with Kim claiming that it marked a new chapter in the country’s naval development.
North Korea has been seeking to expand and modernise its navy as part of Kim’s broader push to develop a nuclear-armed naval force capable of deterring South Korea and the United States.
Kim said new naval bases were being constructed along North Korea’s east coast to accommodate the growing fleet. He has also ordered shipyards to produce two new surface warships annually, including cruisers reportedly twice the size of the Choe Hyon-class destroyers.
Pyongyang has further claimed that it is developing a large nuclear-powered attack submarine, with state media previously releasing images of Kim inspecting the vessel under construction.
At Sunday’s ceremony, Kim said North Korea was implementing an important plan to strengthen its naval forces and suggested that further developments would be revealed within eight months.
Kim was accompanied at the event by his daughter, widely believed to be named Ju Ae and regarded by analysts as a potential successor. State media images showed her alongside her father and members of the destroyer’s crew during the ceremony.
