Sunken 467-foot Russian ship may have been carrying nuclear reactors for North Korea

A Russian cargo ship, Ursa Major, sank off Spain in December 2024 after reported engine-room explosions and a suspected external strike.

Spanish and media reports say investigators later found signs the vessel may have been carrying undeclared nuclear reactor components.

The cargo is believed to have been intended for North Korea, possibly via Rason, raising proliferation concerns.

Officials are also examining whether the ship was hit by a torpedo or other sabotage, complicating the cause of the sinking.