N. Korea building new warships on both coasts: NK News

North Korea has begun building two new warships on its east and west coasts, with construction reported at Nampho Shipyard and Chongjin Shipyard on Friday. NK News, citing Planet Labs imagery, said the Nampho vessel may be the North’s first 10,000-ton cruiser, while the Chongjin vessel could be a second destroyer or another 10,000-ton cruiser. The outlet also said upgrades are under way at both shipyards after Kim Jong-un called for technical updates to expand capacity. Dozens of blue-roofed structures have appeared at both sites since last month, likely for construction workers.

At Nampho Shipyard, large hull sections have been staged and assembled since early July.

The Chongjin Shipyard vessel did not appear until mid-August, when red ship hull materials were seen being assembled.

Kim Jong-un said in June that North Korea planned to build 10,000-ton cruisers.

At a Central Military Commission meeting in July, Kim declared that the military would make technical updates to expand shipyard capacity at all levels.

Dozens of blue-roofed structures have appeared at both shipyards since last month, likely to house construction workers.

Published Sep 25, 2026 9:33 pm KST

Updated Sep 26, 2026 12:47 am KST

North Korea's Kim Jong-un discusses the production of major munitions during a tour of a munitions factory with officials from the defense science research sector at an undisclosed location in North Korea, in this undated photo released by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Sept. 19. EPA-Yonhap

North Korea has begun construction on two new warships on the east and west coasts, a U.S. news outlet said Friday, citing satellite imagery.

According to NK News, Planet Labs imagery shows construction under way at the Nampho Shipyard on the west coast as well as at the Chongjin Shipyard on the east coast.

At Nampho, large hull sections have been staged and assembled since early July, with the ship likely to be the North's first 10,000-ton cruiser, though it is too early to determine, the outlet said.

It noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated plans in June to build such cruisers.

The warship under construction at the Chongjin Shipyard, meanwhile, did not appear until mid-August, with satellite imagery showing red ship hull materials being assembled.

Though it is also too early to determine, the ship could be the North's long-planned second destroyer, the fourth of the 5,000-ton class, or a 10,000-ton cruiser, the outlet said.

Upgrades have also been taking place at both shipyards after the North Korean leader declared at a Central Military Commission meeting in July that the military would make technical updates to expand shipyard capacity at all levels, it said.

At both Nampho and Chongjin, dozens of blue-roofed structures have appeared since last month, likely for use as lodgings for construction workers, it said.

朝鲜已开始在其东西海岸建造两艘新军舰，据报道，南浦造船厂和清津造船厂周五均已开工。NK News援引Planet Labs的图像称，南浦造船厂的舰艇可能是朝鲜首艘万吨级巡洋舰，而清津造船厂的舰艇可能是第二艘驱逐舰或另一艘万吨级巡洋舰。该媒体还称，在金正恩要求进行技术升级以扩大产能后，两家造船厂均已开始进行升级改造。自上个月以来，两处造船厂都出现了数十座蓝色屋顶的建筑物，很可能是建筑工人的住所。

自 7 月初以来，南浦造船厂一直在进行大型船体部件的组装和装配。

崇津造船厂的船只直到8月中旬才出现，当时可以看到红色的船体材料正在组装中。

金正恩在6月份表示，朝鲜计划建造1万吨级的巡洋舰。

在7月的一次中央军事委员会会议上，金正恩宣布，军队将进行技术升级，以扩大各级造船厂的产能。

自上个月以来，这两个造船厂都出现了数十座蓝色屋顶的建筑物，很可能是用来安置建筑工人的。

发布于2026年9月25日晚上9:33（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月26日凌晨12:47（韩国标准时间）

这张由朝鲜官方通讯社朝中社于9月19日发布的未注明日期照片显示，朝鲜最高领导人金正恩在朝鲜某秘密地点参观一家军火工厂时，与国防科技部门官员讨论了主要军火的生产情况。（图片来源：EPA-Yonhap）

美国一家新闻媒体周五援引卫星图像报道称，朝鲜已开始在东西海岸建造两艘新军舰。

据 NK News 报道，Planet Labs 的图像显示，西海岸的南浦造船厂和东海岸的清津造船厂都在进行建设。

据该媒体报道，自 7 月初以来，南坡已开始堆放和组装大型船体部件，该舰很可能是朝鲜第一艘 1 万吨级巡洋舰，但现在确定还为时过早。

报告指出，朝鲜领导人金正恩在6月份曾表示计划建造此类巡洋舰。

与此同时，在崇津造船厂建造的军舰直到8月中旬才出现，卫星图像显示红色的船体材料正在组装中。

该媒体称，虽然现在断定还为时过早，但这艘船可能是朝鲜筹划已久的第二艘驱逐舰，也可能是5000吨级驱逐舰的第四艘，或者一艘10000吨级巡洋舰。

报道称，朝鲜领导人在7月份的中央军事委员会会议上宣布，军方将进行技术更新，以扩大各级造船厂的产能，此后，这两个造船厂都进行了升级改造。

报道称，自上个月以来，南坡和清津两地都出现了数十座蓝顶建筑，很可能是用作建筑工人的住所。