South Korean military authorities are keeping "a close eye" on a Russian-made warship which was spotted in a satellite photo of a North Korea port, officials said Thursday.
The vessel, whose satellite image taken by Google Earth was published by a South Korean newspaper Wednesday, is docked in the western port of Nampo but appears to have no guns or radars on deck.
"All we can say is we do know about the big Russian-manufactured warship in the North Korean port," a defence ministry spokesman told AFP. "We are keeping a close eye on it."
Another ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it is believed to be one of Russia's decommissioned 3,000-tonne frigates.
Officials refused to say how long they believe the warship has been there or what its purpose may be. The National Intelligence Service was not available for comment.
Chosun Ilbo newspaper, which published the image, said Wednesday US and South Korean intelligence authorities assume the ship was imported for its scrap value or for display.
But it also said the North wanted large warships in response to South Korea's growing naval power.
The paper said the impoverished North is known to have only three warships of more than 1,000 tonnes — two 1,500-tonne frigates manufactured in the 1970s and one 1,600-tonne frigate made in the 1980s.
South Korea launched a new 7,600-tonne destroyer in May and commissioned a large amphibious assault ship in July.
