1993 aerial port side view of a North Korean Navy Najin-class frigate underway; a hull number (531) is visible toward the bow.
Class overview
Builders	Unknown, but built in North Korea[1] (Najin Shipyards)[2]
Operators	KPA Naval Force
Built	1971–1979[1]
In commission	1973–present
Completed	4+[1]
Active	2+
Retired	2+
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	1,600 long tons (1,600 t)[1]
Length	328 ft (100 m)[1]
Beam	32.8 ft (10.0 m)[1]
Draught	8.9 ft (2.7 m)[1]
Propulsion	2x diesels; 15,000 bhp (11,000 kW); 2 shafts[1]
Speed	26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph)[1]
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)[1]
Complement	180[1]
Sensors and processing systems	Radar Air search: Square Tie Surface search: Pot Head Navigation: Pot Drum Fire control: Drum Tilt Sonar Stag horn; hull-mounted active search/attack sonar
Armament	Missiles: SSM - two SS-N-2 Styx or SS-N-25 Switchblade[3] Guns 2 × 100 mm (4 in)/56 (single); 4 x 57 mm (2.2 in) (twin); twelve or four 30 mm (1 in)/66 (6 or 2 twin); 12 × 25 mm (0.98 in) machine guns (6 twin) Other: Two RBU 1200 five-tube fixed launchers Depth charges (two projectors, two racks) 30 mines

The North Korean Najin-class frigates are some of the largest vessels in the Korean People's Navy. Although they bear a striking resemblance to ex-Soviet Kola-class frigates, they are unrelated to any Russian or Chinese design.^[2] The class was originally fitted with a trainable triple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo launcher, which was replaced in the mid-1980s with fixed P-15 Termit missile launchers taken from Osa-class missile boats. The design is inherently dangerous, and even a minor missile failure would result in significant damage to the ship.^[2]

In 2023, two or more of these frigates remain active with North Korea's navy a full half-century after they were commissioned. An estimated two or more have been retired, though what has been done with them since then is unknown.

Upgrades

At least one Najin-class ship appears to have been upgraded with much more modern weaponry in 2014. Refitted at Namp'o, the outdated anti-ship missiles, aft 57-millimetre (2.2 in) dual cannon, Drum Tilt fire-control radar and surface search radar were removed, and several new systems were installed. Most clearly identifiable are two 30 mm (1.2 in) automated turrets at the aft, likely based on the Soviet AK-630 CIWS, and two Kh-35 missile racks with the capacity for about eight missiles in place of the older P-15 Termit/HY-2 launchers. The modernization program appears to be continuing as of December 2014.^[4]

References