On April 29, 2025, North Korea conducted the first live-fire tests from its newest multi-role destroyer Choe Hyon, the first ship of its class in the DPRK Navy. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the tests, which were personally observed by the country's leader Kim Jong-un, included launches of supersonic cruise missiles, Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles, anti-aircraft missile systems and firing of a 127-mm deck automatic cannon. The demonstration of the warship's military capabilities, launched on April 26, underscores Pyongyang's ambitions to strengthen its naval power and has sparked heated discussions in the international arena.

The Choe Hyon destroyer, named after the national hero, is the largest surface ship of the DPRK developed by national enterprises. According to Overclockers.ru, the ship is equipped with 74 missile launchers, including cells for anti-aircraft missiles and cruise missiles such as the Hwasal-2, which can carry nuclear warheads and hit targets at a distance of up to 2000 km. During the tests, supersonic cruise missiles were launched, which, according to experts, are analogs of the Russian 3M55 Oniks and 3M54 Kalibr-NK. These missiles, as stated in Wikipedia, are characterized by high speed (up to 2,5 Mach for the Oniks) and the ability to maneuver at low altitudes, which makes them difficult to intercept.

The Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles, previously tested from the Amnok-class corvette, have proven their range and accuracy. As noted by LiveJournal account fonzeppelin, the launchers for the Hwasal-2 are located in a hangar in the center of the destroyer's superstructure, allowing for the missiles to be secretly placed and launched. The anti-aircraft missile systems, presumably based on the Russian Pantsir system, have demonstrated the ability to hit air targets at a distance of up to 20 km.

Kim Jong-un, who was present at the tests, praised the destroyer's capabilities, calling it "an important step in the modernization of the fleet." According to KCNA, the ship is capable of carrying out missions in both near- and far-off sea zones, providing "strategic deterrence." The statement comes amid heightened tensions in the region over joint exercises between the United States, South Korea and Japan, as well as new UN sanctions against Pyongyang for missile tests.