The Korea Times
North Korea is moving ahead with the construction of a third Choe Hyon-class destroyer at Nampo Shipyard on its west coast while continuing to prepare its first vessel for deployment, according to high-resolution commercial satellite imagery released Wednesday by Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the main opposition People Power Party. The images, captured between March 12 and 28 by U.S.-based space intelligence firm Vantor, show large cranes and marine hoisting equipment operating continuously around the third hull under construction. Yu said the periodic repositioning of the cranes indicates that major structural blocks and superstructure components — including radar arrays and weapons systems — are being lifted into place, suggesting the vessel has advanced beyond the basic hull assembly stage. Separately, the imagery shows the first ship of the class, Choe Hyon, moored at Nampo with visible exhaust emissions from its engines, along with small crane movements around the vessel that Yu said may indicate additional weapons being installed. Chang Young-keun, head of the missile center at the Kore
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