K-Defense Monitor

December 2025

Did Russia Supply SSBN Reactor to N. Korea?
On December 28, Spanish media reported that a Russian cargo ship which sank off the Spanish coast in December 2024 was reportedly carrying nuclear…
 • Mingi Hyun
Latest on N. Korean SSBN: When "Good Enough" Goes to Sea
On Christmas Day, North Korea released imagery purported to be a new ballistic missile submarine (SSBN).
 • Mingi Hyun
Hanwha Becomes a Made Man; HD Hyundai's Partnership with HII (and Babcock?)
Over the past week, various media reports revealed how far the two South Korean shipbuilders have progressed toward securing US Navy (USN) contracts.
 • Mingi Hyun
The Next US Navy Frigate & Lessons from S. Korea’s FFX Program
Earlier today, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that the US Navy selected its National Security Cutter (NSC) design for the service’s…
 • Mingi Hyun
The Korea Zinc Case: Why the Pentagon Is Worried About China-Linked Private Equity in Defense Supply Chains
The US Department of Defense recently moved to support Korea Zinc’s proposed USD 7.4 billion smelting plant in Tennessee.
 • Mingi Hyun
S. Korean Shipbuilders Eying US Navy Frigate Program?
South Korean media report rumors of Hanwha and HD Hyundai targeting US Navy frigate program; both firms have already begun implementing plans for US…
 • Mingi Hyun
Drone Pragmatism Over Fanaticism: Why We Need Nuance in Learning from Ukraine
Drones matter, but they're not a silver bullet. It's time we had a more honest conversation about their limitations
 • Mingi Hyun
Beyond the Deal: Industrial Implications of Hanwha’s Austal Investment
How Hanwha's 19.9% stake in Austal could unlock a 'Third Yard' for US Navy submarines and pave the way for South Korea’s nuclear submarine ambitions
 • Mingi Hyun
Defense Industry Outlines “To-Do List” for South Korean Nuclear Submarine Program
A closer look at what South Korea’s defense contractors say they need to make SSN's a reality
 • Mingi Hyun
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