Joseph Dempsey
Images broadcast by the North Korean state media channel, Korean Central Television (KCTV), appear to confirm earlier analysis by the IISS that North Korea is building its largest-ever warship.
On 29 December 2024, KCTV aired a report that included four still images showing President Kim Jong-un inspecting a new naval vessel under construction.
The location of the vessel at Nampo shipyard on North Korea’s west coast was readily identifiable, having featured in a Military Balance blog published in October 2024. This earlier analysis highlighted an unusual structure emerging around the assembly of an unidentified vessel and assessed that the likely size and concealment efforts were indicative of a potential new large surface combatant.
The images released by KCTV capture at least two separate visits by Kim, with clear differences in his clothing, the construction progress on the vessel’s upper bow and the evolving fabrication of the surrounding dock structure. One image is from an earlier inspection that likely occurred in August or mid-September, based on the initial covering of camouflage netting overhead and on the sides of the structure framework. The other three were likely in late November or December, by which time the structure’s sides had been clad in panels and a solid roof had largely been completed. While these later developments to the surrounding structure provide better concealment from observation, they also indicate the likely completion of the ship’s main assembly, given the gantry crane used to move elements of the superstructure into place no longer has access due to the new roof.
No comments:
Post a Comment