North Korea's Korean People's Army Navy (KPAN) boasts large inventories of missile-armed fast attack craft and diesel-electric attack submarines, but its major surface warships are few and rarely seen.
There was therefore considerable interest when, on August 21, 2023, Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) released details of a test firing of an indigenous, 2,000-kilometre range nuclear warhead-capable Hwasal land attack cruise missile from an Amnok-class corvette of the KPAN Eastern Fleet, bearing pennant number 661. This test firing was witnessed by no less than Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.
This demonstration of KPAN maritime firepower was very likely intended to demonstrate that North Korean ship-launched nuclear weapons could reach both South Korea and Japan in time of war.
The corvette, displacing an estimated 2,000 tonnes, mounts heavy armament for a warship of modest size. There are eight launchers for Hwasal missiles. Backing up this main armament are four multi-barrelled close-in weapon systems, multiple launchers for short-range air defence missiles, torpedo launchers, anti-submarine rockets, and a 100-milimetre gun.
Surveillance, target acquisition, and fire control radars are also fitted. Sensors and weaponry are derived from early Russian and Chinese designs, and some analysts believe that some have probably been transferred from decommissioned KPAN assets.
The warship has some stealth characteristics. Earlier reports that it was built on an unfinished hull of a Krivak-class frigate acquired from Russia remain unconfirmed.
According to some reports, another similar vessel is at an advanced stage of construction.
