A U.S. Web site devoted to analysis of North Korea says a sanitary goods factory located near the Taedong River is involved in producing specialized naval vessels.
 
The Web site 38 North, a program of the U.S.-Korea Institute at John’s Hopkins University, made the assessment on the “December 7 Factory” on Wednesday based on commercial satellite imagery and recent North Korean television footage.
 
The Web site assessed that the factory appears to be involved in producing small experimental craft, Yeon-o Class midget submarines and two classes of stealth patrol craft. The report added that factory is run by the Korean People’s Army Unit 1501.
 
In particular, the report said the North is likely to have begun building new class of stealth patrol craft sometime during the mid-2000s. The report said that to date, two different classes have been observed at the December 7 Factory on commercial satellite imagery, including a 23-meter vessel and a larger 30-meter vessel.