July 2 (Asia Today) — North Korea’s deployment of its new multipurpose destroyer Choe Hyon could gradually increase the security burden on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, a researcher at a state-run South Korean think tank said Thursday.

Pyongyang is seeking to add two Choe Hyon-class destroyers to its fleet each year, highlighting the need for the allies to develop countermeasures.

Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said in a recent report that the destroyer’s deployment could eventually restrict allied naval movements and the arrival of U.S. reinforcements.

The report, titled “The Commissioning of North Korea’s New Multipurpose Destroyer Choe Hyon and Its Strategic Implications,” was published June 30.

Hong said the Choe Hyon integrates several precision-strike weapons on a single platform, including supersonic cruise missiles, strategic cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles.

If North Korea operates the ship alongside additional destroyers, submarines and naval mines, its ability to deny access to surrounding waters and exert maritime pressure could expand, he said.

“The combination of surface and underwater forces could give North Korea the ability to pressure ports and shipping routes even during peacetime, potentially making South Korea’s economic security vulnerability more structural because of its heavy dependence on maritime trade,” Hong said.

He said the expansion of North Korea’s threat toward mainland Japan and U.S. forces stationed there could encourage greater maritime intelligence sharing among South Korea, the United States and Japan.

It could also lead to closer coordination of missile defense systems, expanded joint naval exercises and a faster regional arms race, he said.

Hong said the addition of multiple sea-based and underwater nuclear delivery platforms would also sharply increase the number of targets that South Korea would need to neutralize through its Kill Chain preemptive-strike system.

The need to continuously monitor more potential targets and expand multilayered missile defenses could deepen South Korea’s reliance on U.S. extended deterrence and increase pressure to raise defense spending, he said.

Hong cited remarks by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the Choe Hyon’s commissioning ceremony at Nampho Port on June 23.

Kim said the country’s shipbuilding industry had established a strong, self-reliant foundation suited to North Korea’s conditions.

He also said the country had reached a stage at which it could build and deploy various maritime and underwater combat systems in coastal and open-ocean waters without restrictions.

Hong said the remarks suggested North Korea had completed design reviews for additional vessels and begun construction based on a standardized platform that could support the production of two Choe Hyon-class destroyers annually.

Kim’s reference to open-ocean operations also appeared intended to demonstrate North Korea’s ability to deter the United States and South Korea and respond to trilateral security cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, Hong said.

Hong cautioned, however, that North Korea still faces significant challenges involving shipbuilding quality, maintenance, naval base infrastructure, crew training and the integrated operation of multiple weapons systems.

“The practical combat capabilities of the vessels still need to be verified,” Hong said.

He said North Korea continues to lag far behind South Korea in destroyer capabilities, the maturity of air defense and combat management systems, survivability, operational sustainability and supporting infrastructure.

Hong said it remains uncertain whether North Korea can fully establish the planned naval capabilities within five years.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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