The new naval combatant under construction at the Nampo Shipyard, which Kim Jong Un visited twice in March alone, has been moved out of its construction hall. Netting has been placed over the vessel, presumably to obstruct overhead observation, and cranes are present, suggesting ongoing work on additional superstructure elements.

The warship’s exterior appears to have been rapidly completed in approximately one year, likely leveraging North Korea’s “speed campaign” approach. Future efforts will probably focus on armament, engines, phased array radar, and the integrated combat management system. While North Korea might possess sufficient domestic capabilities for armament and engine development, the phased array radar, and especially the combat management system, will likely require significant time and external assistance, particularly from Russia, due to the integration complexities of numerous indigenously developed weapon systems.

Furthermore, a second new combatant under construction at the Chongjin Shipyard, initiated around May of last year, appears to be nearing external completion, following a similar trajectory to the one at Nampo. This second vessel likely faces comparable challenges, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of potential cooperation between North Korea and Russia.