In a significant blow to North Korea’s naval modernization efforts, a newly constructed 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer capsized during its launch ceremony on May 21, 2025, in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. The incident, witnessed by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, was attributed to a mechanical malfunction during the side-launch process, causing the ship’s stern to slip into the water while the bow remained on the launch platform.
In response, Kim Jong Un labeled the mishap a “criminal act” resulting from “absolute carelessness” and ordered the detention of at least four senior officials, including the chief engineer and deputy manager of the shipyard.
Salvage operations commenced promptly, employing unconventional methods such as the use of approximately 40 large balloons, each about 20 feet wide, to aid in stabilizing and refloating the vessel. While cranes played a primary role in righting the ship, the balloons may have served to provide additional buoyancy or obscure satellite imagery during the operation.
By June 5, satellite imagery confirmed that the destroyer had been successfully righted and moored at the Chongjin port. The vessel is slated for further inspection and repairs at a dry dock in the neighboring port of Rajin, with restoration efforts expected to take seven to ten days.
This incident underscores the challenges North Korea faces in advancing its naval capabilities, particularly in constructing and deploying large-scale warships. The Choe Hyon-class destroyer, equipped with vertical launching systems and advanced weaponry, is central to Kim Jong Un’s strategy to modernize the country’s Soviet-era naval fleet and bolster its maritime defense posture.
The failed launch and subsequent salvage operations have drawn international attention, highlighting the regime’s determination to project military strength despite technical setbacks and internal disciplinary actions.
