North Korea’s New Destroyer Damaged in Launch Disaster

NEW YORK -- North Korea’s naval ambitions suffered a humiliating setback on May 22, 2025, when a newly unveiled 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer was heavily damaged during a launch ceremony at Chongjin Shipyard. According to state media reports, as confirmed by AP News, the stern launching ramp detached prematurely, causing the warship to run aground and sustain significant hull damage. Kim Jong Un, who attended the event, labeled the incident a "criminal act" of negligence and vowed severe punishment for those responsible. This mishap casts a harsh light on Pyongyang’s aggressive push for naval modernization, a cornerstone of its broader military expansion.

The destroyer incident comes amid North Korea’s concerted effort to bolster its naval capabilities, including the development of a massive submarine fleet and nuclear-armed underwater drones. Reuters reported in 2023 that Pyongyang has been prioritizing new warships and its first operational missile submarine, aiming to extend the range and strike power of its nuclear forces. Recent missile tests, including cruise missiles resembling Russia’s Kalibr system spotted on the damaged destroyer, suggest an accelerated pace of innovation, as noted in posts on X and corroborated by Business Insider. Yet, this latest failure raises questions about the regime’s technical competence, with some experts, as cited on X, doubting whether these new vessels even have functional engines since no footage shows them in motion.

Compounding the scrutiny is North Korea’s deepening military collaboration with Russia, which likely influenced the destroyer’s design through technology transfers or inspiration, according to military analysts quoted by Business Insider. This partnership extends beyond hardware; North Korea has confirmed troop deployments to Russia, with both Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin acknowledging their soldiers’ involvement in fighting to reclaim the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, as reported by Reuters and The New York Times in April 2025. While Kim touts naval advancements and tank development as symbols of modernization, per Kyiv Independent, the Chongjin debacle reveals glaring vulnerabilities. As North Korea stretches its resources across multiple fronts, from missile tests to foreign deployments, this incident signals that ambition may be outpacing execution.