North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls



Analysis North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls Imagery shows work hasn’t begun on east coast base set to host new destroyer, despite Kim Jong Un’s demand for upgrades Colin Zwirko April 30, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Kim Jong Un gives instructions during a visit to the long-stalled Tapchon Bay naval base project last fall. \| Image: KCTV (Sept. 8, 2024) North Korea has signaled its intention to sail a new warship around the Korean Peninsula in the next year, setting up a showdown with the South by assigning the destroyer built on the west coast to an east coast fleet, but NK Pro analysis shows that upgrades to the base set to host the ship have not even begun. NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs imagery shows that naval base construction north of Wonsan remains stalled after Kim Jong Un visited last fall demanding “urgent” work to “build a modern port city as a symbol” of his Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls 02North Korea heralds naval revolution with launch of impressive new destroyer 03How secret North Korean customs rules lay bare a bizarre trade regime 04Elite absences hint at a North Korean power struggle ahead of party congress 05With Yoon’s exit, South Korea faces critical choices on North Korea strategy 06Tools of the trade: How North Korea launders billions in stolen cryptocurrency 07North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis 08North Korean ICBM factory upgrade project resumes, expands: Imagery 09Ruse or revolution? Analyzing North Korea’s new drone and AEW&C aircraft 10New construction underway near North Korean aircraft factories amid drone push

Analysis

North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls

Imagery shows work hasn’t begun on east coast base set to host new destroyer, despite Kim Jong Un’s demand for upgrades

Colin Zwirko April 30, 2025

North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls

Kim Jong Un gives instructions during a visit to the long-stalled Tapchon Bay naval base project last fall. | Image: KCTV (Sept. 8, 2024)

North Korea has signaled its intention to sail a new warship around the Korean Peninsula in the next year, setting up a showdown with the South by assigning the destroyer built on the west coast to an east coast fleet, but NK Pro analysis shows that upgrades to the base set to host the ship have not even begun.

NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs imagery shows that naval base construction north of Wonsan remains stalled after Kim Jong Un visited last fall demanding “urgent” work to “build a modern port city as a symbol” of his

01North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls
02North Korea heralds naval revolution with launch of impressive new destroyer
03How secret North Korean customs rules lay bare a bizarre trade regime
04Elite absences hint at a North Korean power struggle ahead of party congress
05With Yoon’s exit, South Korea faces critical choices on North Korea strategy
06Tools of the trade: How North Korea launders billions in stolen cryptocurrency
07North Korea’s ‘new’ sniper rifle likely Austrian import or copy: Analysis
08North Korean ICBM factory upgrade project resumes, expands: Imagery
09Ruse or revolution? Analyzing North Korea’s new drone and AEW&C aircraft
10New construction underway near North Korean aircraft factories amid drone push

North Korea prioritizes shipyard construction as major naval base project stalls

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About the Author

Colin Zwirko