North Korea Defence Forum

[FHN]

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[sahureka2]

Nord Korea
conducted a test-fire of sea (underwater)-to-surface strategic cruise guided weapons on January 25.
https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1737882153-707303111/test-of-important-weapon-system-conducted/

It is not shown what it was launched from, the photos currently published do not reveal it.
But the South Korean news agency Yonhap writes:
South Korea's military confirmed the North's missile firing, noting that it detected the launches of multiple cruise missiles from an inland area in North Korea toward the Yellow Sea at about 4 p.m. Saturday.
Based on the images released by the KCNA, the missiles appear to have been fired using the cold launch method, which is typically associated with submarine and ship-based vertical launching systems.

People Power Party Rep. Yu Yong-weon, a member of the parliamentary defense committee, said the latest test-firing appears to be part of the North's efforts to strengthen its tactical nuclear strike capabilities by equipping its new warships and submarines with such missiles.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250126000452315?section=nk/nk

The North Koreans specifically write test-fire of sea (underwater)-to-surface strategic cruise guided weapons if as they claim in the South it was carried out from an inland area, it would lead to the assumption that they used a reservoir and for testing a submergible test stand barge.

As always with the DPRK it is best to wait and hope for the publication of further images or news
Photo KCNA

 

[sahureka2]

News regarding shipbuilding.

North Korea building second warship of largest new class on east coast: Report | NK PRO

North Korea is building a second warship of its largest new class in Chongjin on the east coast, according to an SI Analytics nK Insight report released Tuesday, following state media’s recent reveal of the first such ship on the west coast. Construction on the vessel started in May 2024 at the...

www.nknews.org

Apparently, as with the previous 2 Amnok class and 2 Tunan class corvettes, the construction of the new class of large frigates was carried out simultaneously in two shipyards, one as the images had shown in Namp'o, west of the DPRK. And now it is indicated at the Chongjin shipyard on the east coast.
As indicated in the article and shown in the photos, at the moment the dimensions of the hull are indicated as 117 meters long by 16,
(#) but.......



( #) but from the photos it appears that the extreme bow shown in green is still missing and there appears to be a prefabricated block (shown in purple) which seems perfectly suited to be added to the stern, so I find it plausible that the ship will reach 130 meters in length.

 

[sahureka2]

In September 2024, satellite imagery indicates that North Korea is making progress in modifying a heavy transport aircraft intended likely to be the country’s first airborne early warning (AEW) platform.
https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2024/09/north-korea-a-new-eye-in-the-sky/


March 3, 2025 , It appears that North Korean technicians are completing or have completed the conversion of the IL-76 aircraft into the first early warning aircraft (AEW) for the DPRK.
https://www.38north.org/2025/03/qui...north-koreas-airborne-early-warning-aircraft/

 

[sahureka2]

South Korean News Agency YONHAP NEWS On 8 March, the Korean Central News Agency reports,
President Kim Jong un inspected shipbuilding work at major shipyards there.
It is reported that he inspected the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine and a large warship
In the photos one can see new, sharp images of the frigate under construction from which one can surmise the dimensions.
Frigate under constructio Nampo




Frigate under construction Chongjin



and only partially those of the nuclear submarine

 

[Falcon26]

South Korean News Agency YONHAP NEWS On 8 March, the Korean Central News Agency reports,
President Kim Jong un inspected shipbuilding work at major shipyards there.
It is reported that he inspected the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine and a large warship
In the photos one can see new, sharp images of the frigate under construction from which one can surmise the dimensions.
Frigate under constructio Nampo
View attachment 106394
View attachment 106395
View attachment 106396
View attachment 106397
Frigate under construction Chongjin
View attachment 106398
View attachment 106399

and only partially those of the nuclear submarine

@arslank01 Confirmation NK is building a nuclear powered submarine and also a confirmation this is not insurmountable for a nuclear powered state with history of manufacturing nuclear reactors. If NK can do it, Pakistan can 100% do it as Pakistan helped NK’s nuclear program.

 

[Piet]

South Korean News Agency YONHAP NEWS On 8 March, the Korean Central News Agency reports,
President Kim Jong un inspected shipbuilding work at major shipyards there.
It is reported that he inspected the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine and a large warship
In the photos one can see new, sharp images of the frigate under construction from which one can surmise the dimensions.
Frigate under constructio Nampo
View attachment 106394
View attachment 106395
View attachment 106396
View attachment 106397
Frigate under construction Chongjin
View attachment 106398
View attachment 106399

and only partially those of the nuclear submarine

Thanks for posting.

The only way in which NKor could move so quickly towards a decent-seized 'cruiser' *and* an SSN, is with massive assistance, material and otherwise from China, as well as a lessor extent, Russia.

I have watched this country roll out and unveil major arms developments over the years. So this unveiling, while very important, is just following a 'to be expected' one.

Piet

 

[hyperman]

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Honestly Best Korea is so impressive. lol

Nuclear Submarines before South Korea would be nuts. Idk about performance though. lol

Kim Jong Un is an Ambitious man, More so than his father and possibly even his grandfather.

 

[hyperman]

It will take them a while now.

A while has come. lol

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[sahureka2]

Thanks for posting.

The only way in which NKor could move so quickly towards a decent-seized 'cruiser' *and* an SSN, is with massive assistance, material and otherwise from China, as well as a lessor extent, Russia.

I have watched this country roll out and unveil major arms developments over the years. So this unveiling, while very important, is just following a 'to be expected' one.

Piet

I disagree, a frigate/destroyer of that size is not designed and built in a short time, it takes years, years even, to have everything available to make it work.
And military relations with Russia have only recently become closer and those with China had brought nothing military.
What is certain, the purchases for scrapping naval surface ships and submarines in the 1990s certainly brought experience to North Korean engineers and designers.
As early as 2008, they offered a frigate to Myanmar, which then did not choose and decided to build its first frigate locally, but the submarine and missile armament was North Korean-made.
Moreover, if you go back over the years, surely Kim Jong-un showed us many of the elements that would be used to build new classes of military ships and projects that had no corresponding in Russia and China.
But important before building a ship is to have everything needed to build it, starting with the engine apparatus.
Kim Jong-un over time has shown us that he has large German or German-origin diesel engines, he has shown us that he has naval gas turbines, and through shipbuilding he has shown that he has locally produced artillery such as the local version of the 76/62 Oro Melara, 30mm gatling-type CIWS, 14, 5 mm CIWS, also of the gatling type, new-generation anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, MAPADS naval systems, and in various military parades, they showed that they had developed various types of radar, including three-dimensional radar, and the ability to launch missiles vertically, both SAMs and cruise missiles.
The biggest mistake that we can make is to believe that the North Koreans are not capable of such achievements, but this way of thinking does not take us far, as for example many smiled when Kim Jong-un announced the construction of a nuclear submarine, but this is a project that was announced at least 20 years ago, indeed an early larval project in the form of a model had appeared in photos when it was presented in the mid-1990s to his father Kim Jong-il


The above is not to say that everything installed on these frigates is North Korean ingenuity and built in the DPRK, something will certainly have been bought/replaced/recovered/copied from components from friendly countries, but also from countries they consider hostile.
So if there was help from Russia at least up to 2 years ago to lay the foundations for the design and construction of large warships, one has to go back to the time of the break-up of the USSR when probably naval engineers and technicians may have been invited to work in the DPRK where they not only brought their knowledge but also trained local engineers and technicians.

 

[hyperman]

@arslank01 Confirmation NK is building a nuclear powered submarine and also a confirmation this is not insurmountable for a nuclear powered state with history of manufacturing nuclear reactors. If NK can do it, Pakistan can 100% do it as Pakistan helped NK’s nuclear program.

We Knew back in October that they were, this is the first time we see a possible picture, but the same questions remain on whether it will be a viable submarine in terms of noise levels and stealth and the efficiency and safety of the Nuclear reactors.

H

Post in thread 'North Korea Defence Forum'

Oct 11, 2024

Signs Point To North Korea Building A Nuclear-Powered Submarine: South Korean Intel​

Signs Point To North Korea Building A Nuclear-Powered Submarine: South Korean Intel

A report from the South Korean military assesses that the new submarine under construction is North Korea’s biggest yet. A report from the South Korean military assesses that the new submarine is North Korea’s biggest yet.

www.twz.com

• hyperman

• 

 

[hyperman]

I disagree, a frigate/destroyer of that size is not designed and built in a short time, it takes years, years even, to have everything available to make it work.
And military relations with Russia have only recently become closer and those with China had brought nothing military.
What is certain, the purchases for scrapping naval surface ships and submarines in the 1990s certainly brought experience to North Korean engineers and designers.
As early as 2008, they offered a frigate to Myanmar, which then did not choose and decided to build its first frigate locally, but the submarine and missile armament was North Korean-made.
Moreover, if you go back over the years, surely Kim Jong-un showed us many of the elements that would be used to build new classes of military ships and projects that had no corresponding in Russia and China.
But important before building a ship is to have everything needed to build it, starting with the engine apparatus.
Kim Jong-un over time has shown us that he has large German or German-origin diesel engines, he has shown us that he has naval gas turbines, and through shipbuilding he has shown that he has locally produced artillery such as the local version of the 76/62 Oro Melara, 30mm gatling-type CIWS, 14, 5 mm CIWS, also of the gatling type, new-generation anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, MAPADS naval systems, and in various military parades, they showed that they had developed various types of radar, including three-dimensional radar, and the ability to launch missiles vertically, both SAMs and cruise missiles.
The biggest mistake that we can make is to believe that the North Koreans are not capable of such achievements, but this way of thinking does not take us far, as for example many smiled when Kim Jong-un announced the construction of a nuclear submarine, but this is a project that was announced at least 20 years ago, indeed an early larval project in the form of a model had appeared in photos when it was presented in the mid-1990s to his father Kim Jong-il
View attachment 106559

The above is not to say that everything installed on these frigates is North Korean ingenuity and built in the DPRK, something will certainly have been bought/replaced/recovered/copied from components from friendly countries, but also from countries they consider hostile.
So if there was help from Russia at least up to 2 years ago to lay the foundations for the design and construction of large warships, one has to go back to the time of the break-up of the USSR when probably naval engineers and technicians may have been invited to work in the DPRK where they not only brought their knowledge but also trained local engineers and technicians.

I would honestly be shocked if that Gas Turbine on the Ship isn't Russian or Chinese. Thats a massive element in Ship building. Those Submarine Diesel Engines and Surface Ship Gas Turbines are incredibly hard to get right. And usually the last element most countries develop on their journey to Ship Building independence.

 

[sahureka2]

We Knew back in October that they were, this is the first time we see a possible picture, but the same questions remain on whether it will be a viable submarine in terms of noise levels and stealth and the efficiency and safety of the Nuclear reactors.

H

Post in thread 'North Korea Defence Forum'

Oct 11, 2024

Signs Point To North Korea Building A Nuclear-Powered Submarine: South Korean Intel​

Signs Point To North Korea Building A Nuclear-Powered Submarine: South Korean Intel

A report from the South Korean military assesses that the new submarine under construction is North Korea’s biggest yet. A report from the South Korean military assesses that the new submarine is North Korea’s biggest yet.

www.twz.com

• hyperman

• 

Today nobody has the answer, only when it will be in the tests or during the operational missions will the friends or better still the adversaries of the DPRK be able to answer your questions if they want.

 

[Piet]

I disagree, a frigate/destroyer of that size is not designed and built in a short time, it takes years, years even, to have everything available to make it work.
And military relations with Russia have only recently become closer and those with China had brought nothing military.

With this I can agree. Pertaining to Russia, the period of conflict with Ukraine to date, even with substantial help from Putin this would be an eye-popping experience if NKor had transferred thus far so quickly.

What is certain, the purchases for scrapping naval surface ships and submarines in the 1990s certainly brought experience to North Korean engineers and designers.

Agreed.

As early as 2008, they offered a frigate to Myanmar, which then did not choose and decided to build its first frigate locally, but the submarine and missile armament was North Korean-made.

Leaves a trail of bread-crumbs from 2008 too date in my estimation.

Moreover, if you go back over the years, surely Kim Jong-un showed us many of the elements that would be used to build new classes of military ships and projects that had no corresponding in Russia and China.
But important before building a ship is to have everything needed to build it, starting with the engine apparatus.

Kim Jong-un over time has shown us that he has large German or German-origin diesel engines, he has shown us that he has naval gas turbines, and through shipbuilding he has shown that he has locally produced artillery such as the local version of the 76/62 Oro Melara, 30mm gatling-type CIWS, 14, 5 mm CIWS, also of the gatling type, new-generation anti-ship missiles, cruise missiles, MAPADS naval systems, and in various military parades, they showed that they had developed various types of radar, including three-dimensional radar, and the ability to launch missiles vertically, both SAMs and cruise missiles.

All good here still.

The biggest mistake that we can make is to believe that the North Koreans are not capable of such achievements, but this way of thinking does not take us far, as for example many smiled when Kim Jong-un announced the construction of a nuclear submarine, but this is a project that was announced at least 20 years ago, indeed an early larval project in the form of a model had appeared in photos when it was presented in the mid-1990s to his father Kim Jong-il

As far as the 'West' is concern, it would appear as if it still suffers from a collective form
of 'NIH'.

View attachment 106559

The above is not to say that everything installed on these frigates is North Korean ingenuity and built in the DPRK, something will certainly have been bought/replaced/recovered/copied from components from friendly countries, but also from countries they consider hostile.
So if there was help from Russia at least up to 2 years ago to lay the foundations for the design and construction of large warships, one has to go back to the time of the break-up of the USSR when probably naval engineers and technicians may have been invited to work in the DPRK where they not only brought their knowledge but also trained local engineers and technicians.

Just shows what a country - even an isolated and heavily sanctioned country can achieve if it applies its mind to it.

Piet

 

[mack8]

DPRK has flown it's AEW! Also doing flight trials of the (modified?) Saetbyol-4 HALE drone. Kamikaze drones are tested as well.

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