Probe Reveals Sunken Russian Ship Carried Nuclear Reactors for North Korea

Spanish investigators have revealed that the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, which sank in the Mediterranean Sea in December 2024, was secretly transporting components for two submarine nuclear reactors destined for North Korea. Initially believed to be on a weapons retrieval mission to Syria, the vessel was actually part of a covert operation likely linked to military aid exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang. The ship, operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence-owned Oboronlogistika, sank following explosions, with suspicions arising that it may have been deliberately targeted by Western forces using a supercavitating torpedo to prevent the transfer of advanced nuclear technology. While the manifest listed non-dangerous goods, the captain admitted the cargo included reactor parts. This incident highlights deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, coinciding with Pyongyang's development of nuclear-powered submarines. Fourteen crew members were rescued, but two remain missing. The wreck lies at a depth of 2,500 meters, where significant military activity has been detected since the sinking.