Large new construction recently began at North Korea’s Chongjin Shipyard, possibly signaling progress in Pyongyang’s efforts to build another destroyer-type warship at the site after a disastrous failed launch last year, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

Planet Labs imagery shows digging work started in late January to the south of the outdoor warship construction area, which was used to build and side-launch the new Kang Kon destroyer last year. 

An outline on the ground appeared by late February, suggesting plans for a new building covering up to six acres of land (2.4 hectares), situated away from the quay’s edge at the shipyard bay to the north and ocean beach to the south.

Large propaganda signs appeared at the spot on Feb. 13, just before digging accelerated. This is a sign that the work is related to a politically significant project — likely the warships.

It is too early to determine the exact purpose of the construction, but the new activity offers fresh evidence that leader Kim Jong Un is sticking with the Chongjin Shipyard despite arresting its top personnel for the botched launch last year.

Clear signs of construction on another destroyer have yet to appear outdoors at the shipyard, which has remained quiet since a temporary camouflage net shelter used last year was removed just before the failed May launch. 

However, the continued presence of dozens of temporary shelters installed at the factory last August, which are typically used as worker barracks for the duration of major construction projects, suggest some aspects of warship construction may be ongoing. 

North Korea’s Choe Hyon-class destroyers are larger than existing indoor construction halls at the complex as well, but construction of sections or components could be underway inside.

The Chongjin Shipyard started building North Korea’s second Choe Hyon-class destroyer in 2024, the No. 52 Kang Kon. The first destroyer was built at Nampho Shipyard on the west coast slightly earlier and launched last April. 

Workers have been repairing the Chongjin ship and installing weapons systems since it returned to the shipyard from up the coast in Rason last August. 

Kim Jong Un said at its official launch ceremony in Rason in June that it should be deployed to the East Sea Fleet in the “middle” of this year.

He also ordered two additional Choe Hyon-class destroyers to be completed by the end of 2026, without mentioning where they would be built. State media later confirmed Nampho was building its second vessel last year, but it did not offer a similar update about Chongjin.

Kim’s last public inspection related to the destroyer project was at Nampho last October.

He said in June that North Korea will also build larger ships in the future alongside continued destroyer construction, all as part of plans to establish a blue-water navy that can sail to “major ports and waters of enemy nations.”

Edited by David Choi