North Korea relaunched its second Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyer at Rajin Shipyard, located on the northeast coast of North Korea on Thursday. The launch of the 5,000-ton Kang Kon (52) follows a failed launch on May 21 at the Chongjin Shipyard that capsized the ship.

During the launch ceremony the previous day, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to rapidly strengthen the country's navy by building two destroyers per year to deter aggression, with the third and fourth ships of the new Choe Hyon class planned for 2026.