Pyongyang is building ships at a pace that frankly doesn't make sense. If you look at the recent satellite imagery or the North Korean state media clips from late 2025, you'll see something that looks like it belongs in a high-budget action movie—but the reality of north korea warship construction is a lot more complicated, and honestly, kind of weird.
Take the Choe Hyon. It’s a 5,000-ton beast of a destroyer that North Korea claims they built in about 400 days. To put that in perspective, the US or China usually takes at least two years to get a hull like that in the water.
The Mystery of the 400-Day Destroyer
The Choe Hyon (Hull 51) isn't just a bigger boat. It’s a massive jump for the Korean People’s Navy (KPN). For decades, their fleet was basically a collection of aging Soviet relics and small "mosquito" boats designed to harass the South Korean coast. Now, they’re showing off a multi-purpose destroyer with 74 vertical launch system (VLS) cells.
That’s a lot of firepower.
Specifically, the Choe Hyon is packed with a mix of:
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- Small cells (32 of them) likely for the Pyongae-5 surface-to-air missiles.
- Medium and Large cells for the Hwasal-2 cruise missiles.
- Extra-large cells (at least 10) that could theoretically hold tactical ballistic missiles like the Hwasong-11.
But there’s a catch. Experts like Tyler Rogoway have pointed out that while the ship looks terrifying, it sits remarkably high in the water. This usually means it's a "floating shell"—lacking the heavy internal machinery, full fuel loads, or the hundreds of tons of electronics needed to actually fight.
Why the Sudden Surge in North Korea Warship Construction?
You've probably heard about the growing "bromance" between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. It’s not just for the cameras. Analysts have noticed that the Choe Hyon looks suspiciously like the Russian Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates. The bow lines, the chine, the way the superstructure is laid out—it’s too similar to be a coincidence.
There's even a Russian-style Pantsir-M air defense system on the stern. This is a big deal because the Pantsir-M hasn't been seen on a non-Russian ship before.
Kim isn't just building one, either. After the first ship launched in April 2025, a second one followed in May. That one actually capsized during its debut—a "criminal irresponsibility" as Kim called it—but they’re already halfway through building a third one at the Nampho Shipyard. The goal? Have it ready by October 10, 2026, for the Workers' Party anniversary.
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The 8,700-Ton Elephant in the Room
If the destroyers weren't enough, Kim Jong Un spent late 2025 inspecting what he calls an "8,700-tonnage nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine."
Let's be real: North Korea building a nuclear-powered sub would be a massive technological leap. Most Western experts, including the team at 38 North, are skeptical. Building a reactor small enough to fit in a hull and quiet enough to not be a "dinner bell" for US sonar is incredibly hard.
What we do see is a massive hull with an unusually tall sail. This suggests it’s designed to carry very long missiles—maybe even intercontinental-range ones. Whether it actually has a nuclear heart or just a lot of batteries and a diesel engine is the $64,000 question.
What You Should Actually Watch For
It’s easy to get distracted by the shiny new ships, but the real story is the infrastructure change.
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- Nampho and Rason: These shipyards have been upgraded with massive protective screens to hide construction from satellites.
- Standardization: They are moving away from "one-off" experimental boats to actual classes of ships.
- Blue-Water Ambition: For the first time, North Korea is talking about "maritime sovereignty" and operating far away from their own coast.
Practical Takeaways for 2026
If you're tracking this, don't just look at the hull launches. Look at the sea trials. A ship that can't move is just a very expensive target.
Keep an eye on the October 2026 deadline for the third destroyer. If they hit that mark, it confirms their production line is stabilized, likely with Russian technical "advisors" on the ground. Also, watch for any tests of the 127mm main gun or the VLS systems. If those cells start firing successfully, the "floating shell" theory goes out the window.
The KPN is transforming from a coastal nuisance into a regional missile threat. It’s a slow, messy process—marked by capsized ships and suspicious timelines—하지만 it’s happening.
Next Steps to Monitor:
- Check satellite updates for the Nampho Shipyard dry dock activity in mid-2026.
- Watch for reports of Russian naval "technical exchanges" in the port of Rajin.
- Monitor the 2026 Party Congress for new five-year naval modernization targets.