North Korea is building the largest ship in its history, a rocket fraglet

North Korea is building the largest ship in its history, twice as large as the largest units so far – according to satellite photos published by the CNN station. According to experts, it is a rocket frigate with vertical rocket launchers.

The satellite photo from the North Korean shipyard in NAMOO about 60 kilometers from Pyongyang was published on Sunday. It shows a powerful unit during construction works, mooring at one of the port waterfrres. According to the CNN station, the ship is a rocket frigate (FFG) with a length of about 140 meters.

– FFG is about 140 meters long, which makes it the largest ship produced in North Korea – according to the analysis of Joseph Bermudez Jr. and Jennifer Jun from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. For comparison, the famous Arleigh Burke rocket destroyers belonging to the Navy USA They have a length of about 155 m, and the largest Polish ships – rocket frigates ORP Gen. K. Pułaski and ORP Gen. T. Kościuszko – length approx. 136 m.

North Korea's largest ship

The photos revealed so far show that the unit being built may have elements characteristic of modern ships of current naval powers. According to experts, the ship has been designed to carry many missiles in vertical launchers, whose goals can be found both at sea and land. It was also noticed that the ship is probably prepared to install the radar with a charmed antenna, which can track threats and goals faster and more accurately than the tools.

It is known about the construction of such an unit since the end of 2024, when North Korean media published photos of Kim Jong Una by inspecting the shipyard. Next to the dictator, a huge hull of an unknown ship was visible, but no details were given. Now, thanks to satellite photos, you could see the whole figure for the first time and confirm the construction of the largest surface ship in the history of North Korea.

According to the former Captain of the American Navy Carl Schuster, he probably must take a year or longer before the new North Korean war ship will be able to start sea tests.

See also: North Korea is building an atomic submarine

Large fleet of old ships

American military intelligence (DIE) announced in 2021 that Navy North Korean has about 400 patrol ships and 70 submarines. As emphasized, although it is a large number of units, most of them are old and small. The report emphasized that in the event of a conflict with South Korea or the United States, the North Korean Navy will mainly deal with the defense of the coast, because both countries have much greater naval forces.