North Korea Claims to Unveil Nuclear-Powered Submarine

North Korea has taken a significant step in its military advancement by unveiling what it claims is a nuclear-powered submarine under construction. State media released photos of the vessel during leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to major shipyards, describing it as a “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine.” This development marks a concerning milestone in North Korea’s naval capabilities and poses potential security challenges for South Korea, the United States, and their allies in the region.

Military experts estimate the submarine to be a 6,000-7,000 ton-class vessel with the capacity to carry approximately 10 missiles. The term “strategic guided missiles” suggests these would be nuclear-capable weapons, significantly enhancing North Korea’s ability to launch stealth attacks. South Korean submarine expert Moon Keun-sik from Hanyang University emphasized that such a submarine would be “absolutely threatening” to South Korea and the US, primarily because submarine-launched missiles are notoriously difficult to detect before launch.

This nuclear submarine is not an isolated project but part of a comprehensive weapons development plan announced by Kim Jong Un during a major political conference in 2021. The wishlist included sophisticated weaponry such as solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, spy satellites, and multi-warhead missiles. Since then, North Korea has conducted numerous tests to develop these advanced systems, demonstrating its commitment to military modernization despite international sanctions.

The international community has raised questions about how North Korea, a heavily sanctioned and economically challenged nation, could acquire the necessary resources and technology to build nuclear-powered submarines. Some experts, including Moon, suggest that North Korea may have received Russian technological assistance to build the submarine’s nuclear reactor, potentially in exchange for conventional weapons and troops supporting Russia’s Ukraine campaign.

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According to expert analysis, North Korea could launch this submarine for testing within the next one to two years before actual deployment. While North Korea already possesses between 70-90 diesel-powered submarines, most are aging vessels only capable of launching torpedoes and mines. This nuclear-powered submarine would represent a quantum leap in their naval strike capabilities.

The unveiling comes amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea intensifying its rhetoric against the US and South Korea ahead of their annual military exercises. During his shipyard visits, Kim emphasized North Korea’s goal to modernize both surface and underwater warships simultaneously to counter what he described as “inveterate gunboat diplomacy of the hostile forces.” This development signals North Korea’s continued determination to advance its military capabilities despite international pressure and economic hardship.

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