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North Korea's 'largest' warship under construction with Russian aid: report

Construction of the vessel started in May 2024 at the Chongjin Shipyard on the northeast coast.

By Taejun Kang for RFA
2025.02.19

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- North Korea is building a second large naval combatant at Chongjin Shipyard, which is possibly its largest warship, new satellite imagery shows, with experts saying it suggests Pyongyang is strengthening its conventional naval capabilities in collaboration with Moscow.

The Chongjin Shipyard, North Korea's largest, has historically produced large cargo ships, ferries, and naval patrol boats, including semi-submersible vessels for infiltration into South Korea. However, no major shipbuilding activity has been observed in its outdoor yards in more than a decade, according to a report by SI Analytics, a Seoul-based, AI-driven satellite imagery analysis service focusing on North Korea.

Assembly of block sections began in May 2024, with the vessel's lower hull measuring approximately 117 meters (384 feet) in length and 16 meters (52 feet) in beam, SI Analytics said. It added that that additional blocks could extend the vessel further.

One of the most notable observations was the implementation of an unusual security measure - a rigid, grid-like metal camouflage covering the ship under construction, the group said.

Initially spotted near the vessel in December, the covering was nearing completion. Unlike traditional canvas tarps, the metallic structure appeared designed to obscure construction activities and potentially disrupt radar sensor detection.

"This kind of metal camouflage suggests an intentional effort to shield the vessel's construction from surveillance," SI Analytics said. "It aligns with North Korea's broader strategy of enhancing secrecy around military advancements."

Satellite images also revealed that despite heavy snowfall in early February, the shipyard's outdoor construction area remained conspicuously clear, indicating the high priority placed on the project.

Russian involvement

The construction of this vessel follows North Korea's recent strengthening of military cooperation with Russia, and the analyst said that continued collaboration with Russia was essential for integrating command and control systems on warships, a process that may require significant time.

"The construction of a second large warship suggests an unprecedented expansion of North Korea's naval capabilities," the group added. "If these vessels are indeed combatants, they will pose a considerable challenge to the military balance on the Korean Peninsula and the combined naval forces of South Korea and the United States."

While the possibility remains that this vessel could be a large civilian ship, such as a cargo carrier, the combination of security measures, its dimensions, and the pace of construction strongly suggest it is a military combatant, according to SI Analytics.

North Korea's biggest vessel to date is a 1,500-ton frigate fitted with a ship-to-ship missile.

A U.S.-based expert told RFA Korean that Moscow does not mind transferring tech to North Korea as long as could not be used against it in the future.

"Russia's not so much a naval power, they're not so much a country that would ever try to use naval forces against North Korea," said Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst with the RAND Corporation. "So they're undoubtedly not very concerned about giving naval technology to North Korea."

First large warship built in Nampo

In December, the South Korean military reported that North Korea had begun building a 4,000-ton frigate equipped with a vertical launching system. At the time, it was believed to be the largest warship ever built by North Korea.

"North Korea is building a 4,000-ton frigate at Nampo," the South Korean military said, referring to the North's western port city. "From the size of the vessel, it is assessed to be capable of carrying a [ship-to-ground] missile."

The South's military, however, noted that it may take several years for Pyongyang to complete the construction of the vessel and more than 10 years for the ship to be deployed for operations.

Yu Yong-weon, a South Korean military journalist-turned-lawmaker, said the frigate was yet to be equipped with a combat system, but it raised concerns that it may emerge as a new threat due to its ship-to-surface missile launching capabilities.

South Korea's confirmation came a day after the North's state media released photos of leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the shipyard where the new warship was under construction while reporting on a year-end party plenary meeting.

During the visit to the shipyard, Kim was quoted as saying that strengthening the naval force is the "most important matter in firmly defending the maritime sovereignty of the country and stepping up the war preparedness at present."

Additional reporting by Ann Kim for RFA Korean. Edited by Mike Firn and Eugene Whong.

Updated to include comments from Bruce Bennett, and to distinguish between the company SI Analytics and the title of their report, "nK Insight."

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