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Najin Naval Base

Najin is an important maritime terminal and a major naval operating and training center. It is located on the east coast, about 18 miles southwest of the Russian border. The naval complex is a major operating base for mine warfare vessels, fast attack craft, and patrol craft. A naval academy for officer and petty-officer candidates is located nearby.

The port is an improved natural harbor of about 6 square miles in the north part of Najin-man, a large bay formed by the mainland on the west and north and a peninsula on the east. The harbor is semicircular in shape, with central depths ranging from 35 to 70 feet. The approach is made from the open sea above deep, unobstructed waters. There are no defined fairways, but the controlling depth to the deepwater wharves is 31 ft. Shelter is provided by high mainland terrain, and three insular breakwaters are located within the harbor. Tides are negligible (less than 1 foot). Floating ice may be encountered in winter, but it does not constitute a hindrance to navigation.

Anchorages include numerous freeswinging berths of all classes with depths of 20 to 70 ft. However, the holding ground of mud, sand, and shells is poor. Alongside berthing is along 13,310 ft. of principal wharfage for at least 40 berths of varying sizes.

Facilities alongside include 13 cranes of varying sizes. At least 17 storage buildings provide a minimum gross floor area of 266,150 sq.ft. POL storage includes four tanks to the SW of the port, plus an underground storage area to the W. of the port with an unknown capacity. There is open space in the port environs for storage of coal, lumber, or other bulk commodities.

The main east coast highway passes through the port and provides clearance to the north or south. However, the principal access to the port is provided via the national rail network. Numerous rail spurs leave the inner port area to connect into a single line, standard-gage track that runs N. and then W. along the Russian and Chinese border, or south along the main east coast rail line. There are two connections with the Chinese rail sytem, approximately 100 and 120 miles NW of the port, and one connection, 25 miles from Najin, provides access to the 5'0"-gage network of the Former Soviet Union. A principal classification yard of the North Korean rail system is located in Najin. The yard has at least 30 tracks and 165,000 feet of trackage.

Intelligence reports describe Najin Shipyard No.28 as "the foremost naval shipyard in North Korea". It constructs and repairs landing craft, small auxiliaries, and combatants ranging from patrol boats to 205-foot escorts. In 1970, facilities included a 600 ft. graving dock, a 375 foot marine railway, two 400 foot construction halls, and 4 building ways ranging in length from 375 to 500 feet.