North Korea builds two new warships simultaneously
North Korea is building two newly designed surface warships at shipyards in Nampo and Jeonjin, according to KPA_bot, an analyst specialising in monitoring the North Korean armed forces.
Here's What We Know
An analysis of new photos published by the DPRK's official media revealed that the ships are being built in different places. The first pictures showed construction in a covered boathouse in Nampo, while later photos were taken in Chongjin, where the ship is surrounded by camouflage nets to maintain secrecy. In addition, Kim Jong-un personally visited the shipyard to inspect the work and make adjustments to the process.
Kim Jong-un during an inspection at the Cheongjin shipyard: KCNA
A comparison of the two ships revealed some differences. For example, the Nampo ship did not yet have a structure for a sonar station, while the Cheongjin already had this part. The types of cranes used also differ, which confirms the different construction sites.
A future DPRK warship. Illustration: KCNA
The new photographs provided a closer look at the ships' above-deck structure, including the shafts for the vertical launchers. According to South Korean analysts, the DPRK may use Chinese installations or its own, created on their basis.
The contours for installing antenna arrays are similar to those used on Chinese Type 055 destroyers, especially X-band radar multifunctional stations with an active phased array.
Previously, this shipyard in Cheongjin built one of the DPRK's most advanced warships, known in Western classification as the Amnok or Nampo class.
Source: KPA_bot
