North Korea is building its biggest and most advanced warship, almost as large as those of the US Navy
New satellite photos captured a warship under construction in North Korea which when completed could be a game changer for regional security.
North Korea has been working to modernize its aging navy launching a nuclear unmanned underwater drone and its first its first operational tactical nuclear attack submarine. It has also been building what will be its largest warship to date.
What is believed to be a frigate ship, which North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was shown inspecting late last year, was captured in new satellite images in the water at the Nampo shipyard southwest of the capital Pyongyang.
While still under construction, once complete it will also be the most advanced in the North Korean fleet and could have “a game changing impact in the regional security,” Kim Byung-kee, a member of the South Korean National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee and retired admiral told CNN in an interview.
North Korean warship could have advanced warfighting abilities
Analysis of the latest images of the new vessel indicate that it is roughly 459 feet long. That is slightly smaller than US Constellation-class frigates, which are currently under construction, which measure 496 feet in length.
The photos indicate that it has vertical launch cells that may be capable of launching a variety of missiles. North Korea has been moving to boost its navy’s nuclear strike capacities in line with Kim Jong Un’s desire that it play a key role in the hermit nation’s nuclear deterrence.
While it is believed that Russia may be providing technological assistance, Kim Byung-kee questions whether his neighbor to the north has the technical ability to build such an advanced warship and the infrastructure to support it. But he also isn’t underestimating the potential lethality the vessel could present upon completion. He expressed special concern about North Korea equipping it with the hypersonic ballistic missiles Pyongyang claimed to have successfully tested earlier this year.
Other advanced features of the new guided-missile frigate indicated by the satellite images is that it will have phased-array radar. This would give the vessel an upgraded ability to quickly and accurately track targets and threats.
Integrating all of the systems of a modern warship such as the “communications, electronics, weapons, and both electronic and acoustic sensor technologies,” can be challenging according to former US Navy captain and Hawaii-based analyst Carl Schuster speaking to CNN. He said that the North Koreans will likely need a year or more to complete construction of the new vessel before it can begin sea trials.
How big is the North Korean navy?
The Korean People’s Army Naval Force (KPANF), consisting of an estimated 60,000 servicemen, is divided into two fleet commands, one covering the country’s east coast and another the west coast. The majority of its force, 60 percent, is deployed south of the capital according to South Korea’s 2022 Defense White Paper.
Pyongyang has approximately 70 diesel-electric attack, coastal, and midget class submarines divided between the two fleets. The North Korean fleet also consists of roughly 470 surface vessels, including guided missile ships, torpedo boats, small patrol vessels, and fire support boats.
Much of the North Korean navy’s vessels are obsolete and operate mostly in immediate coastal waters as its deep-sea operational capacity is limited because its force primarily consists of small, high-speed vessels. However, the White Paper noted that “the North Korean Naval Force possesses the capacity to carry out a surprise attack any time.”
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