Like other North Korean cities, Chongjin is focusing on large-scale construction projects, road paving, and trade activities such as coal exports to China. In particular, it is modernizing a major park, while the second new destroyer Kang Gun, which returned to Chongjin Shipyard last August, is undergoing extensive repairs, prioritizing the removal of its vertical launch system (VLS). Considering that the Choi Hyun had all armaments except the main gun replaced, the Kang Gun is expected to have its weapons removed first and then fitted with proven systems from the Choi Hyun. However, given that the Choi Hyun failed to conduct operational performance evaluations in October despite Kim Jong Un’s directives and is still undergoing maintenance, the Kang Gun’s operational deployment is expected to require considerably more time.