Putin-Kim friendship: Did Russia help North Korea build warship? Seoul thinks so

South Korea’s military has raised fresh concerns about the growing defence ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, suggesting that Russia may have assisted North Korea in building a newly unveiled destroyer-class warship. The development has further fuelled fears about the deepening strategic partnership between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday (May 1), South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-jun said preliminary assessments indicate the possibility that Russia provided technological or financial support for North Korea’s new 5,000-ton vessel, named Choe Hyon.

“Looking at the weapons and equipment that were revealed, we believe that there is a possibility that they received technology, funds or assistance from Russia,” Lee said, adding that Seoul was conducting a more detailed analysis of the ship and its systems.

The warship was shown over the weekend during a high-profile unveiling in North Korea. State media reported that Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the first stage of a two-day weapons test, during which he called for the acceleration of nuclear armament for the country’s navy.

While Pyongyang has described the Choe Hyon as being equipped with “the most powerful weapons” including supersonic cruise missiles, strategic cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles, experts in South Korea remain skeptical about its immediate deployment potential. Lee cautioned that warships of this size typically take several years to become operational, even after construction is complete.

“Although the Choe Hyon has been unveiled, it seems likely that considerably more time will be needed for its [operational] deployment,” he said.

If confirmed, Russian assistance in developing such a vessel would mark a significant new phase in military cooperation between the two nations. It would also represent a potential breach of United Nations sanctions, which prohibit the transfer of weapons-related technology to North Korea.

The claims come at a time of visibly warming ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. On Wednesday, Russia and North Korea announced plans to construct their first automobile bridge, calling it a symbol of their expanding relationship. The announcement followed North Korea’s confirmation earlier this week that its troops had participated in combat operations in Russia’s Kursk region, the first such admission after months of intelligence reports by Western and South Korean agencies.

Those reports have estimated that more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers were dispatched last year to assist Russian forces in their attempts to regain territory in the region.

Military analysts say the scale and speed of these developments reflect a calculated shift in both countries’ foreign policy. For North Korea, the strategic alliance offers critical technological transfers and resources to bolster its naval and missile capabilities. For Russia, a politically isolated Kremlin gains much-needed manpower and diplomatic support amid a prolonged and attritional war in Ukraine.

The prospect of a nuclear-armed North Korean warship, built with Russian support, is likely to intensify security concerns across East Asia.

With inputs from agencies