North Korea Builds Two Warships as Shipyards Expand on Both Coasts

Two warship hulls are taking shape at North Korean shipyards on opposite coasts, while new worker facilities, buildings and waterfront construction point to a wider expansion of the country’s naval industrial base. Satellite imagery analyzed through Sept. 22 establishes that assembly is underway, but it does not yet confirm the vessels’ dimensions, displacement or class.

The distinction matters because the visible construction supports a firm conclusion about activity and capacity not about the ships’ final capabilities. Analysts assess that one or both hulls could be among the 10,000-ton cruisers North Korea has said it plans to build. At this stage, however, that identification remains unconfirmed.

What the imagery establishes

Planet Labs imagery analyzed by NK Pro showed large hull sections being staged and assembled at Nampho Shipyard on the west coast beginning in early July. Similar work appeared at Chongjin Shipyard on the east coast in mid-August, where red hull materials were visible around the assembly area.

That timing indicates simultaneous construction at two geographically separated yards. It is a more consequential industrial signal than activity at a single site because it suggests North Korea is distributing major surface-ship work across both coasts.

The associated construction reinforces that reading. Dozens of blue-roofed structures assessed as lodging for construction workers have appeared at Nampho and Chongjin, following the establishment of a similar camp at Rajin. Nampho has also seen land clearing, possible quay work, new buildings and a recently expanded pier. Construction may be resuming on a large building at Chongjin.

Worker accommodation is a practical production constraint, not a cosmetic addition. Large hull assembly requires a sustained labor presence across fabrication, fitting-out and waterfront work. Additional buildings and quay space can also support more material handling and more ships moving through different production stages, although imagery alone cannot establish the eventual throughput of either yard.

The cruiser assessment remains unresolved

North Korea’s stated plans give analysts a reason to consider larger vessels. In June, Kim Jong Un called for the country to build “two surface ships every year whose class is higher than the Choe Hyon,” including 10,000-ton cruisers. He followed that in July with a call for “technical updates for expanding the capacity of shipyards at all levels.”

The Nampho hull is assessed as a possible first 10,000-ton cruiser. The Chongjin vessel could be another ship in the country’s existing 5,000-ton destroyer class or a larger cruiser. Neither interpretation can yet be verified from the available imagery because the hulls are not sufficiently complete to establish their length or displacement.

That uncertainty limits what can responsibly be inferred about propulsion, sensors, weapons, crew requirements or construction schedules. A larger nominal displacement would also not, by itself, establish how capable or operationally mature the completed ship would be.

Construction is moving faster than basing

North Korea has already commissioned two 5,000-ton destroyers, Choe Hyon and Kang Kon. The Kang Kon was commissioned in September 2026 after its initial launch attempt in May 2025 left it partially capsized. It was launched successfully the following month before completing further work.

Choe Hyon was launched in April 2025 and commissioned in June 2026. As of Sept. 22, it remained at a civilian cargo port beside Nampho Shipyard because North Korea reportedly lacks a naval base equipped to host it.

That creates the central constraint on the expansion. Building more or larger hulls does not automatically provide the berthing, maintenance, supply and crew-support infrastructure needed to operate them. Shipyards can launch a fleet faster than the supporting naval system can absorb it.

Rajin illustrates why the evidence should not be overstated. Although worker facilities appeared there and North Korea is investing across multiple yards, high-resolution imagery from Sept. 20 showed no new hull construction underway at that shipyard.

The two visible hulls and expanding facilities therefore support a broad conclusion: North Korea is increasing the physical base for large-warship production on both coasts. The next decisive evidence will be whether the hulls develop dimensions consistent with the proposed cruiser program and whether suitable naval bases emerge to support ships that are already entering service.

By David Whitaker — Associate editor for AMI’s aerospace and drone systems desk, translating flight systems, aircraft programs, spaceflight, and UAV developments into accessible technical stories.