NORTH Korea is reportedly building its biggest and most advanced warship yet in another chilling warning to the West.
Bombshell new satellite images show a giant sea vessel under construction in a shipyard on the country’s west coast.
Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, has been working hard to improve his country’s military strength to pose a threat to the United States and its allies.
The huge ship could end up around double the size of anything in North Korea’s fleet so far, according to CNN.
Pictures show weapons systems are being built that would help the ship fire missiles at targets on both land and sea, according to analysts.
A recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies revealed that North Korea is planning to build a massive warship measuring 459 feet long, which would be the largest of its kind in the North Korean fleet.
Kim’s forces appear to be building the menacing ship despite heavy international sanctions against North Korea.
But the despot’s relationship with Russia’s Vladimir Putin could be helping him get around the sanctions, analysts claim.
The two villainous dictators have been deepening military ties since Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
North Korea is widely reported to have supplied weapons to Russia since the invasion, as well as sending troops to fight in Kursk.
But it’s likely it will take another year or more before the new ship can begin sea trials, says analyst Carl Schuster.
He said: “This ship’s construction is being delayed by the lack of the superstructure, sensor and weapons systems intended for installation.”
The construction of such a modern warship presents various challenges, as it requires integrating advanced technologies such as communications, electronics, weapons, and sensor technologies, both electronic and acoustic, which can be quite complex to coordinate effectively.
Other pictures of the ship were featured on the state-run Korean Central Television earlier this year, in which Kim was seen inspecting its construction.
Based on the images of the vessel, the destroyer was tipped to be as large as 330ft from bow to stern and have a beam approximately 50ft wide.
At over 3,600 tonnes, the destroyer would have become the largest warship in North Korea’s naval arsenal – but the latest predictions of the new warship show the project has grown in size.
A closeup picture of the bow even shows an empty space that is expected to house various vertical launch missile systems.
It comes as part of a drive by North Korea to modernise its military, including building new tanks and submarines.
A new nuclear-powered submarine unveiled last month has stoked fears that North Korea is advancing tech that could allow them to strike the US with ballistic missiles.
While North Korea is estimated to have around 400 patrol boats and 70 submarines according to a US Defense Intelligence Agency report, many of them are old and small.
Kim has also been pictured firing a “new sniper rifle” during a visit to watch his special forces training at a military base.
North and South Korea are officially still at war with each other, even though fighting in the Korean War ended in 1953.
Kim’s forces blew up roads connecting the two Korean nations late last year, a symbol of further worsening relations.
It comes as Kim also unveiled North Korea’s first ever nuclear-powered submarine which could strike the West with nuke missiles.
Pictures released by the state media – known to be Kim’s propaganda machine – show the mighty submarine being built at a naval facility.
The tyrant was snapped with his goons at a shipbuilding facility inspecting the construction of the vessel.
Analysts say, based on the images of the unfinished vessel, that the naval vessel could be a 6,000-ton-class or 7,000-ton-class one which can carry about 10 missiles.
Kim’s secret missile base disguised as golf course
By Katie Davis, Chief Foreign Reporter
SCHEMING Kim Jong-un has constructed a new missile base disguised as a private golf course, satellite images reveal.
Top analysts told The Sun how the James Bond villain-esque golf course features sand traps, grass and putting greens – but they believe they are being used to conceal launch pads and missile caches.
The extent of the North Korean despot’s nuclear and missile programme has long been shrouded in mystery – with stations scattered across the hermit kingdom.
Satellite images reveal Kim’s latest base, however, as he continues to ramp up his weapon development.
The pictures reveal what appears to be a private golf course near a recently demolished Kim family mansion in the Ryokpho district of southern Pyongyang.
Analysts confirmed the base could be used to launch long-range missiles – though appears more operational at the moment.
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