North Korea Commissions First Guided-Missile Destroyer, Plans Cruiser

On June 23, 2026, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – DPRK) formally commissioned its largest-ever warship, the first of four 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class guided-missile destroyers (DDG) currently under construction. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over the commissioning of the Choe Hyon (51) on Wednesday at the Nampo shipyard on the country’s western coast. During the commissioning ceremony, Kim Jong Un used the occasion to outline the next phase of North Korea’s naval modernization program. He announced that the second destroyer in Choe Hyuon-class, Kang Kon (52) is expected to enter service in the near future and revealed plans to follow the current destroyer program with a new class of 10,000-ton cruisers. My story for Naval News, here.

Chile Launches First Multipurpose LPD

On 18 June, 2026, after 46 weeks of construction, Chile launched the first of four planned 8,000-ton multipurpose landing platform dock (LPD) ships for the Armada de Chile. The vessel is the lead ship of the Escotillón IV program, under which the first two ships are currently under contract valued approximately US$410 million. The event marks one of the most significant milestones in the Continuous National Naval Construction Plan (PNCCN), a strategic initiative designed to strengthen the country’s naval and industrial capabilities. Construction of LPD-93 Magallanes began at Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada (ASMAR)’s Talcahuano shipyard in southern Chile on February 27, 2022, with the vessel scheduled to enter service in 2027. Work on the second ship, Rapa Nui, commenced in August 2025 with the ceremonial first steel cutting, and it is expected to be launched in the first half of 2029 and to be delivered by 2030. My story for Naval News, here.