North Korea has officially commissioned its new 5,000-ton destroyer, the 'Choe Hyon Ho,' according to state media reports on June 24. The commissioning ceremony took place on June 23 at Nampo Port, attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
During the ceremony, Kim Jong Un expressed satisfaction with the vessel's 'perfect complex operational combat capabilities.' He asserted that the North Korean navy, once considered the weakest branch of the military, has now transformed into a 'miraculous' force with 'unimaginable' combat power. Kim emphasized that the era of the navy primarily serving coastal defense is over, stating that it has grown into a branch equipped with strategic capabilities and is 'accurately following its course' towards nuclear armament.
Kim Jong Un underscored the importance of naval nuclearization as a 'very important strategic process' to strengthen a 'powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent,' enable 'diverse and effective operation' of the national nuclear force, and secure 'firm initiative' in maritime defense and war deterrence. He also outlined ambitious plans for naval expansion, including the construction of two surface vessels of the 'Choe Hyon' class or larger annually, including 10,000-ton cruisers, during the current five-year plan. Other objectives include building frigates and special-purpose vessels, and developing and producing underwater weapon systems.
The leader acknowledged a 'happy concern' regarding the lack of suitable bases for large combat ships like the Choe Hyon Ho, stating that the construction of modern naval bases has become an 'urgent and essential task.' He reiterated a decision made during the 9th Plenary Meeting of the 2nd Central Committee of the Workers' Party, held from June 20-22, to construct naval fleet bases. Kim also mentioned that the 'Kang Gon Ho,' another destroyer of the same class that reportedly ran aground during its launch last year but has since undergone performance tests, would soon be deployed, followed by 10,000-ton strategic vessels.
Cho Chun Ryong, a Party Secretary, reported to Kim Jong Un that the Choe Hyon Ho had successfully completed evaluations of its weapon systems, combat applicability, overall operational capabilities, test firing, integrated operation tests, and maneuverability assessments. Following the ceremony, the Choe Hyon Ho was assigned to the Korean People's Army Navy's West Sea Fleet, tasked with maritime defense and war deterrence in the West Sea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The vessel is named after Choe Hyon, a partisan-era military figure and close associate of Kim Il Sung. Analysts, such as Shin Jong-woo, Secretary-General of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), suggest that while North Korea claims indigenous construction, the close-in weapon system on the Choe Hyon Ho resembles Russia's 'Pantsir-ME' shipborne air defense system, indicating potential Russian technical assistance. Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, who had accompanied him during previous sea trials of the Choe Hyon Ho and Kang Gon Ho, was not reported to be present at this commissioning ceremony.