Pyongyang's naval power play: Russian ties under scrutiny
The South Korean military suspects that North Korea may have received technological or financial support from Russia in building the newly launched destroyer Choe Hyon. Analysts quoted by "Newsweek" suggest it was part of compensation for the support Pyongyang provides to Moscow in connection with the war in Ukraine.
"Looking at the weapons and equipment that were revealed, we believe that there is a possibility that they received technology, funds or assistance from Russia,," stated the spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Li Sung Dzun.
He added that "more detailed analyses" are ongoing, but it already seems almost sure that the Choe Hyon is a vessel that can be equipped with tactical short-range nuclear missiles.
What do we know about Choe Hyon?
The launch of the new multi-purpose destroyer with a displacement of approximately 5,512 metric tonnes, named Choe Hyon in honour of a deceased revolutionary fighter, was announced by the North Korean news agency KCNA on April 25th. A few days later, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the ship's tests, calling for the acceleration of "nuclear armament of the navy."
Analysts quoted by AFP also assess that the vessel may be equipped with tactical short-range nuclear missiles. The regime in Pyongyang claims that the destroyer was built in about 400 days, "exclusively by the forces and using North Korean technology," and is expected to enter service at the beginning of next year.
Li Sung Dzun, however, pointed out that when it comes to warships, it takes several years to build, and even after completion, significantly more time is required to achieve operational readiness.
"We are closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean military and taking necessary measures in accordance with operational procedures," assured the JCS spokesperson.
North Korea is a proven ally of Russia
The American think tank 38 North, which specializes in analyzing the situation in North Korea, based on satellite photos from April 24th, stated that the new ship requires further work. The images showed the use of tugs to move the vessel, suggesting it is not yet fully operational.
Last week, "Newsweek" reported, citing a report from the South Korean KIDA (Korea Institute for Defence Analyses), that North Korea's involvement in Russia's war with Ukraine brought it over $20 billion in profits. Analysts note that Pyongyang may be receiving technology in exchange for supplying weapons and deploying its soldiers in the Kursk region in western Russia.
