A new North Korean destroyer has returned to the east coast shipyard where it capsized during a bungled launch earlier this year , according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery, likely for further installation of weapons and fitting out its interior ahead of being deployed next year.

Planet Labs imagery shows that the No. 52 Choe Hyon-class destroyer sailed from the Rajin Shipyard in Rason down the east coast to the Chongjin Shipyard between Aug. 23 and 24. 

It was undergoing repairs inside a drydock at Rason following a botched side launch in May from a pier at Chongjin near where it was constructed.

The ship, named Kang Gon, was submerged on its side in the Chongjin Shipyard bay for two weeks until it was finally lifted upright and brought to Rason, where DPRK leader Kim Jong Un oversaw an official launch ceremony inside the drydock on June 12.

The official launch signified the completion of basic construction but not all aspects of the ship. State media said at the time that it would be deployed to the East Sea Fleet in “in the middle of next year” as part of major plans to establish a “blue water” navy capable of conducting shows of force outside U.S. naval bases.

It’s still unclear if the ship sailed up to Rason under its own power. 38 North noted that it appeared to be guided into the Chongjin Shipyard by two tugboats just before noon in the Aug. 23 Planet Labs image, suggesting it was once again towed from Rason.

North Korea has built two new 143-meter Choe Hyon-class destroyers since early 2024, displaying a significant improvement in shipbuilding speed from the past and far surpassing the decade-plus that it took to complete four smaller corvettes in recent years — some of which still do not appear to have been fully deployed.

Kim inspected progress last week on fitting out the No. 51 Choe Hyon-class destroyer at Nampho Shipyard on the west coast. 

The state media report suggested that the military has installed equipment, furnished sailor living spaces and conducted various weapons tests from the ship — including anti-aircraft and nuclear-capable cruise missiles but not ballistic missiles — in the months since its official launch in April. 

Pyongyang has not reported any weapons testing involving the Chongjin-built ship, but these could occur soon now that it has returned.

DPRK authorities appeared to severely punish officials from the Chongjin Shipyard following the failed launch, including erasing manager Hong Kil Ho from photos taken with Kim Jong Un. The leader called the botched launch “a criminal act” that “severely damaged the dignity and pride” of the country.

But despite the disaster, Kim appears to have decided to only punish certain individuals and keep the shipyard as a whole in charge of his major warship construction plans on the east coast. 

Satellite imagery shows construction crews expanding a camp at the shipyard earlier this month, indicating preparations to build the fourth Choe Hyon-class destroyer were underway.

Pyongyang reported that work officially started on the third destroyer last month at Nampho. 

Kim also said in April that plans to build an even larger cruiser type warship were in the “final stages,” and that “escort ships of various classes” and two destroyers would be built annually for an unspecified period of time.

Meanwhile, state media hailed the new destroyer construction in an article Thursday marking the Aug. 28 Day of the Navy holiday.

Edited by Bryan Betts

Updated on Aug. 29 at 8:09 a.m. KST with corrected details about the ship being towed into Chongjin