North Korea's destroyer is repaired - bridge to Russia under construction?
North Korea's destroyer is repaired - bridge to Russia under construction?
In the past few days, North Korea has taken steps to repair a damaged destroyer near the Russian border. This destroyer, which was damaged in Chongjin after an accident at the Stapellauf on May 21, was brought to a dry dock in the port of Rajin, about 20 kilometers from the border with Russia. Satellite shots of June 8, 2025 show the ship that is in the shipyard, with critical parts such as rocket systems and gun turrets covered with nets. The repairs are said to take between seven and ten days, whereby the exact goal of laying the destroyer to Najin remains unclear. Observers like Yu Jihoon from the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses emphasize that Najin plays an important role in North Korean-Russian relationships.
The former South Korean Admiral Kim Duk-Ki suspects that the ship's sonar systems may have been damaged and whose origin could come from China or Russia. While there has been no evidence of the presence of Russian experts on the repair work, the current developments are increasing the observations that North Korea and Russia have intensified their military cooperation in recent years. The latest reports show that North Korea supports Russia in the Ukraine War with weapons, ammunition and soldiers, while Russia delivers oil, food and technical know-how to North Korea in return.
military cooperation and strategic contract
A crucial milestone in the partnership between North Korea and Russia was reached in June 2024 when Wladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un signed a contract for comprehensive strategic cooperation. This agreement, which was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives in Moscow, emphasizes the mutual "immediate military support" in the event of an attack on one of the two countries. The approval of the Russian upper house is still pending, but is considered a matter of form. Security analysts warn that this agreement raises military cooperation between North Korea and Russia to a completely new level.
The USA is alerted by alliance and accuse North Korea of continuing to equip Russia with ammunition and weapons. According to reports, North Korean soldiers support the Russian troops in the Ukraine War, which is confirmed by South Korea's secret services. President Yoon Suk Yeol describes this sending as a provocation, which is a threat to global security. In addition, security experts say that North Korea could use Russia to advance its nuclear program, which continues to complicate the situation.
reactions from South Korea
In view of the developments, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul announced that South Korea will react to the sending of North Korean troops with an appropriate antidote. Military analyst Hendrik Remmel reported that several thousand North Koreans are currently being trained by Russia. This raises the question of how the international community, especially South Korea, will react to the support of North Korea for Russia, especially with regard to arms deliveries to Ukraine, which South Korea is considering, depending on the consideration that North Korea receives from Russia| Details | |
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