The circumstances surrounding the sinking of a Russian cargo ship carrying nuclear reactors to North Korea have been brought back into the spotlight. The Ursa Major sank off the coast of Spain on December 23, 2024, after suffering unexplained explosions near the engine room. In recent months, US nuclear ‘sniffer’ aircraft have flown by the sunken ship, and a Russian spy ship visited the wreckage, CNN found.
Details of the Incident
The Spanish government confirmed in February that the ship had been carrying ‘components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used in submarines’, but mystery still shrouds the wreck. On December 23, 2024, the ship called for help and said it had suffered from three blasts near the engine room, which killed two crew members. When rescuers tried to enter the engine room, they found it was sealed. The rest of the crew was evacuated safely, but the ship seemed stable and not likely to sink.
A Russian military ship, which escorted the Ursa Major, the Ivan Gren, then fired off red flares, and four explosions happened after. The ship was then sunk to the bottom of the sea. The ship’s captain wouldn’t speak about what the vessel was carrying before confessing that the ship had two nuclear reactor components.
Aftermath and Ongoing Mystery
Just a week after it sank, a Russian military ship previously accused of espionage floated above the Ursa Major wreckage for days – before four other explosions were detected underwater. The Spanish government still hasn’t dived to check out the wreckage, which they say lies at 8,202 feet below the surface, saying it ‘isn’t possible’ without ‘significant technical resources’. Though it’s not believed that the nuclear reactors were shipped with fuel inside them, the suggestion that Russia would send such reactors to North Korea is incredibly concerning.
Geopolitical Implications
Russia has been cosying up to North Korea, even using Kim Jong Un’s soldiers as cannon fodder in Ukraine. For the first time, this year’s Victory Day parade in Moscow featured troops from North Korea, a tribute to Pyongyang that sent its soldiers to fight alongside Moscow forces. North Korea has one of the largest militaries in the world. Some 1.2 million troops serve in its ranks, but they lack combat experience, and their weapons are thought to be prone to defects and inaccuracy.
The incident raises serious questions about Russia’s intentions and the potential proliferation of nuclear technology. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, especially given the strategic alliance between Russia and North Korea.
