North Korean leader calls for two Choe Hyon destroyers annually

In this image released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on 5 March 2026, Choe Hyon is seen launching a salvo of cruise missiles. (KCNA via KNS/AFP via Getty Image)

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un has directed the construction of two Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyers annually over the new five-year period beginning in 2026, as the first-of-class vessel demonstrates its ability to carry out a ripple launch of cruise missiles.

The instruction was delivered during his inspection of lead ship Choe Hyon on 3 and 4 March, where he oversaw the vessel's shakedown cruise and witnessed the launch of the cruise missiles.

In a statement published by the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on 5 March, Kim described Choe Hyon as a symbol of the country's sea-defence capabilities, adding that tests scheduled onboard the vessel are progressing as planned.

Kim stressed that North Korea possesses sufficient scientific and industrial capacity to achieve the directed output of two destroyers per year, citing its researchers and shipbuilding industry as evidence.

He further commented that plans to equip the Korean People's Navy with nuclear weapons are making satisfactory progress, and that this would constitute a radical shift in the country's ability to defend its maritime sovereignty.

Imagery released by KCNA from the inspection shows Choe Hyon firing multiple missiles within seconds of each other, indicating a near‑simultaneous or tightly sequenced ripple launch from the vessel's amidships vertical launch system (VLS) block.

Choe Hyon is currently the first of two destroyers in its class and was launched in April 2025. A third vessel in the class is under construction.