The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is making a fortune by selling missiles and is currently building its largest and most technically advanced Aegis-class warship, weighing between 5,000 to 6,000 tons in its history. It can be equipped with hypersonic missiles and phased array radars, which will directly change the balance of power in East Asia.
According to a report by CNN, the DPRK is constructing a large warship at the Nampho Shipyard on its west coast, capable of vertical launch for air defense missiles, anti-ship missiles, and hypersonic missiles, to strike naval vessels, aircraft carriers, and land-based military bases from the sea.
Joseph Bermudez of the Center for Strategic and International Studies stated that the length of the warship being built by the DPRK is approximately 140 meters, similar to the U.S. Constellation-class frigate. Therefore, the tonnage of the new DPRK warship should be around 4,000 to 6,000 tons.
Kim Byung-ki, a member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee and a lawmaker, questioned whether the DPRK could afford to build such a large warship. The ship's hull structure, propulsion system, electronic warfare systems, communication systems, vertical launch equipment, optical, electronic, and acoustic sensors, as well as weapons systems—all these high-tech devices and fuel—does the DPRK have them all?
Can the DPRK afford these costs? In fact, there is no need for South Korea to worry about this. The shells sent by trainloads and the missiles shipped by boatloads to Russia are not given away for free. With this large hypersonic missile-equipped warship, the DPRK Navy might even be able to cruise around the Setouchi Sea or near Tokyo Bay, checking if it's hot in Tokyo.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829371184614532/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.