Satellite analysis: North Korea’s 5,000-ton destroyer fleet in construction but short on combat readiness

2026-03-24 - 13:10

North Korea began building and publicly unveiling its 5,000-ton destroyers starting in 2025. Recent satellite imagery suggests the vessels are not yet fully operational combat assets. Both the first ship, Choe Hyon, and the second, Kang Kon, have rarely been observed at sea following their launches. Instead, they have been seen either sitting at port or being moved by tugboat. Source