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Mysterious 144-Meter North Korean Warship Spotted in Dry Dock, Satellite Images Reveal
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A new North Korean warship under construction at the country’s largest naval base in Nampo appears to have left its covered construction hall and is now stationed in a floating dry dock, according to an analysis by 38 North published April 9.
Commercial satellite images suggest that the mysterious vessel first detected less than a year ago, has now entered a new stage of development. It was spotted inside a floating dry dock moored alongside a recently renovated quay at the port.
Construction on the unknown warship was first observed in May 2024, when the framework of the vessel began to appear inside a shipyard structure.
By October, walls of the covered hall had been erected and topped with mesh roofing—likely in an attempt to obscure the build from satellite surveillance. However, openings in the mesh have allowed analysts to estimate the vessel’s dimensions.
Based on satellite data, the ship appears to be roughly 15 meters wide—about a third wider than North Korea’s most recent classes of corvettes, the Amnok and Nampo, which are among the largest warships the country has built since the 1970s.
According to 38 North, satellite images show the floating dry dock being positioned in front of the covered hall and aligned with launch rails.
By March 26, the dry dock—now containing the vessel—was moved westward along the quay, then shifted to its eastern end by March 30, where it remained through early April.
On April 6, imagery showed the vessel’s full visible length—measured from the start of the mesh roofing to the stern—at approximately 144 meters.
The ship’s layout suggests it could include a helicopter landing pad and hangar, aligning with designs seen in modern combat ships.
Future outfitting of the warship, including weapons and onboard systems, is expected to occur at the quay. However, North Korea’s shipbuilding history offers no guarantees; for example, a high-speed missile boat launched in 2018 remains incomplete at the Nampo yard.
Naval analyst H I Sutton stated on X that the ship may house vertical launch systems (VLS), marking a significant leap in capability for the North Korean Navy.
Sutton also pointed to telltale radar apertures beneath the bridge, indicating the potential for phased array radar systems.
Based on analysis of visible components and past North Korean armament displays, the vessel could be equipped with a variety of weapon systems:
A primary naval gun in the 57–100 mm range, possibly modeled on the Italian Oto Melara 76 mm Rapid
Secondary self-defense guns like the Soviet-designed AK-230 or AK-360, or local derivatives.
While no surface-to-air missile systems have yet been confirmed, past vessels relied on anti-air artillery and portable missile systems for air defense.
The ship’s main offensive capability is expected to come from Hwasal-2 cruise missiles, with a potential range of up to 2,000 km.
These missiles are currently installed in angled launchers on Amnok-class corvettes. A vertical launch configuration on this new vessel could allow for a greater number of missiles and improved strike capabilities.
Earlier, North Korea took a major step in its nuclear weapons program, revealing what appears to be its first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
While details remain scarce, experts suggest that the technology behind this submarine may have been acquired from Russia—or perhaps even China.
According to military analysts, imagery released by North Korean state media indicates that the submarine has an unusually large hull, with an estimated beam (width) of 12 meters. This measurement aligns with the dimensions of ballistic missile submarines fielded by major nuclear powers such as the United States, France, and Russia.
