In the summer of 2023, North Korea unveiled a cruise missile-armed corvette, marking a significant development in its naval capabilities. Now, just days before the start of 2025, the country has revealed a new frigate design with more than double the displacement of the +1,500-ton Amnok-class corvette and boasting advanced features. Footage aired by state media Korean Central Television (KCTV) on Sunday (watch the video starting at 03:11.40) included four photographs showing the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un inspecting an unidentified large warship under construction at the Nampo Shipyard for the Korean People’s Army Navy.
Based on the images, the new vessel appears to incorporate cutting-edge technology, such as fixed-panel radars integrated into its superstructure and a vertical launching system (VLS) capable of deploying either cruise missiles and/or anti-aircraft guided missiles. Furthermore, similar to the Amnok-class corvette, significant efforts are being made to minimize the radar cross-section (RCS) as much as possible.
Forward of the bridge, there are two openings: a smaller one at the bow, likely designed for a naval gun, and a larger one directly in front of the superstructure, potentially intended to accommodate a number of vertically launched missiles for defensive or offensive purposes. The small openings in the superstructure suggest the installation of fixed radar panels for surveillance and/ or missile guidance. These features closely resemble the configuration of the unfinished Project 20386 corvette (Derzky) for the Russian Navy, an advanced derivative of the Steregushchiy-class (Project 20380) and Gremyashchiy-class (Project 20385) corvettes.
If the large opening is indeed intended for a VLS for guided anti-aircraft missiles, it would represent a significant advancement in North Korea’s military capabilities. This development would place North Korea among the select group of navies with such systems in their fleets. Until now, the only anti-aircraft missile system aboard North Korean ships has been the Igla-S (SA-24) SAM, deployed either as MANPADS or in the form of an automated sextuple short-range SAM launcher which also equips several Myanmar Navy ships.
A New Era for North Korean Navy?
Coincidentally, just a few days ago, the Myanmar Navy launched its first large frigate equipped with a VLS, the UMS King Thalun—the largest surface combatant ever built locally and one of the many built lately with advanced equipment. Both North Korea and Myanmar have received assistance and technology transfer from other countries: North Korea from both Russia and China, and Myanmar from China. The suspected increased partnership with Russia lately could potentially grant North Korea significant leverage to drastically modernize its naval forces.
A ship with such characteristics represents a significant advancement in North Korea’s naval technology, which has historically relied on an inventory of light corvettes, fast attack craft, patrol vessels and diesel-electric submarines, —many of which are outdated or equipped with legacy weapons and sensors. At present, any insights into the specific systems that will be installed on the new +3,000-ton frigate, the largest warship ever constructed in North Korea, remain speculative. Naval News will continue to monitor developments concerning the frigate’s equipment and provide updates as more information and photos become available.
