Asahi vs Choe Hyon
Asahi vs Choe Hyon at a glance — displacement 5,100 vs 5,000 tons, length 151 vs 144 m.
| Asahi | Choe Hyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇵 North Korea |
| Category | Destroyer | Destroyer |
| Type | Destroyer | Guided-missile destroyer |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Nampo Shipyard, Hambuk Shipyard |
| Year introduced | 2018 | 2026 |
| Number built | 2 units | 2 units |
| Estimated unit price | $585 million | NA |
| Displacement | 5,100 tons | 5,000 tons |
| Maximum speed | 30.0 knots | NA |
| Length | 151.0 m | 144.5 m |
| Beam | 18.3 m | 16.0 m |
| Crew | 230 | -- |
| Asahi | Choe Hyon | |
|---|---|---|
| Armament |
|
|
| Propulsion | COGLAG, two shafts, two GE LM2500 turbines | -- |
Detailed Comparison
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Asahi-class and the Korean People's Navy’s Choe Hyon-class occupy similar weight classes at roughly 5,000 tons. Japan engineered a specialized anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform to integrate into an established allied fleet, while Pyongyang produced an over-armed, isolated surface combatant designed to project land-attack capabilities at the expense of platform stability.
Development and Design
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries delivered two Asahi units between 2015 and 2019, modifying the preceding Akizuki-class hull to prioritize ASW. The production cycle yielded a stable platform. Conversely, North Korea rapidly constructed the Choe Hyon at the Nampo and Hambuk shipyards. The 144-meter hull prioritizes visible armament over structural integrity. The second hull, Kang Kon, capsized during a botched 2025 side launch, requiring recovery. Despite state mandates for two new hulls annually, these structural failures highlight systemic deficiencies in North Korean naval architecture.
Weapons and Sensors
The Asahi integrates a gallium nitride (GaN) active electronically scanned array radar with a specialized towed sonar array. Its armament trades magazine depth for sensor fidelity, carrying a 32-cell Mk. 41 VLS loaded with RIM-162 ESSM and VL-ASROC. The Choe Hyon heavily over-arms its displacement. It carries:
- 88 VLS cells for ballistic, cruise, and surface-to-air missiles
- 16 anti-ship missiles in quadruple launchers
- A Russian-sourced Pantsir-ME close-in weapon system
Integrating this disparate missile loadout onto a 5,000-ton hull increases top-weight, compromising seakeeping and damage control. Furthermore, North Korea's phased-array radar integration remains untested in contested electronic warfare environments.
Propulsion and Performance
Japan fitted the Asahi with a combined gas turbine electric and gas turbine (COGLAG) system utilizing two GE LM2500 turbines. This layout uses electric motors for low-acoustic-signature transit, optimizing the ship for ASW sweeps while maintaining a 30-knot sprint speed. North Korea has not disclosed the Choe Hyon's propulsion. Given Pyongyang's limited access to modern marine gas turbines and the extreme weight of its VLS battery, the class relies on conventional diesel arrangements, capping its speed and generating a massive acoustic signature.
Deployment and Combat Record
The Asahi and Shiranui conduct ASW patrols in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea, operating within US Seventh Fleet carrier strike groups. The Choe Hyon class remains restricted to local waters. Operations consist entirely of orchestrated cruise missile test firings observed by state leadership rather than sustained at-sea deployments.
Conclusion
The Asahi holds the absolute advantage in open-ocean engagements, ASW, and sensor reliability. The Choe Hyon possesses a theoretical edge in localized, first-strike land-attack scenarios due to its massive 88-cell VLS magazine. However, North Korea's failure to master basic vessel stability renders the Choe Hyon a glass cannon. In a direct maritime clash, the Asahi's GaN radar and specialized sensor suite ensure it detects and targets the acoustically loud, top-heavy North Korean vessel before the Choe Hyon can coordinate its bloated missile loadout.