North Korea's Kang Kon destroyer returns to sea after May launch failure

North Korea's destroyer Kang Kon has returned to sea and is testing its guns, roughly a year after the vessel capsized during a launch attempt, state media reported.

The ship suffered a broadside launch failure in May 2025. It rolled onto its side and its hull was partially crushed. State media at the time described the incident as a setback for the navy's modernisation effort.

On Tuesday, state media said the Kang Kon has been repaired. It is now conducting live-fire tests. The reports included images of the destroyer firing its main gun and engaging in maneuvers. The vessel appears to have undergone significant repair work, with its hull restored.

The Kang Kon is North Korea's newest major surface combatant. Its launch was part of a push to modernise the navy, which has focused on smaller missile boats and submarines. The failure last year raised questions about the country's shipbuilding capabilities.

State media did not specify when the destroyer would be fully operational. The reports said sea trials are continuing.