North Korea building warship with 50 vertical missile launchers

A new North Korea warship under construction in the western port city of Nampo may be equipped with as many as 50 vertical missile launchers, according to satellite imagery analyzed by an arms expert.

On April 2, Reuters reported that Jeffrey Lewis, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) in the U.S., reviewed satellite images taken in late March of a shipbuilding site in Nampo. The analysis revealed several deck openings large enough to house more than 50 missile launchers.

Lewis noted that it would be reasonable for the vessel to carry around 32 launchers in the forward section and slightly fewer in the rear. He added, however, that the actual number could be lower if the warship is armed with larger ballistic missiles.

Possible Deployment of Ballistic Missiles

North Korea previously released photos in December showing Kim Jong-un visiting the same shipbuilding facility. At the time, South Korean military officials assessed the vessel to be a 4,000-ton class frigate equipped with vertical launch systems capable of deploying surface-to-ground missiles.

Warships with vertical launchers offer a strategic advantage, enabling easier storage, launching, and reloading of multiple missiles. Lewis emphasized that although North Korea has developed several types of missiles compatible with vertical launchers, none have been deployed on naval vessels until now.

Strategic Implications

“Given North Korea’s limited resources, it has historically prioritized nuclear weapons to counterbalance military gaps with South Korea and the United States,” Lewis explained. “But this conventional military buildup should not be underestimated.”

On March 31, U.S.-based outlet 38 North, which monitors North Korean activities, reported that satellite images showed expansion at the Nampo shipyard. Roof construction on a key facility began in November, and additional new buildings were visible in images taken on March 23.

In a separate report last December, North Korean state media also confirmed that a new warship was being built in Nampo. According to 38 North, this report, along with the satellite imagery, indicates a broader modernization effort by the North Korean Navy, including infrastructure upgrades at the port.

By Mooyoung Lee   [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]