Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
North Korea on December 25 released new photos of its first nuclear-powered submarine, revealing that the vessel, which will be armed with guided missiles, is nearing completion.
The photos released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the submarine at an indoor construction facility. They indicate that substantial progress had been made on the submarine, the existence of which was first announced in March.
KCNA said the submarine has a displacement of 8,700 tons, that’s more than four times the displacement of the Sinpo-class guided missile diesel attack submarine, the largest currently in service with the Korean People’s Navy.
At least size wise, the new North Korean submarine appears to be very much on par with the latest nuclear attack submarines from around the world, including the Virginia-class of the United States Navy and the Yasen-class of the Russian Navy.
The general design of the submarine also has some more modern features, the most notable of which is large flank array sonars.
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
Building a nuclear-powered submarine has been a long-held goal for North Korea, who first discussed it at a ruling party congress in 2021.
With an unlimited range, enhanced stealth, and months-long endurance, nuclear-powered submarines offer the ability to project power globally. Currently only the U.S., Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and India possess the technology.
However, in October, South Korea South Korea was given the approval of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to build its own nuclear submarine.
Kim, while inspecting the new nuclear submarine, said that the U.S.-South Korean agreement is a threat to stability in the region, calling it an “offensive act,” according to KCNA.
He said Seoul’s plan to build nuclear submarines “will worsen the instability in the region of the Korean Peninsula” and stressed that Pyongyang regards it “as an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty and a threat to its security that must be countered.”
Kim said that given the current situation, it is an “urgent task and indispensable option to further accelerate the radical development of the modernization and nuclear weaponization of the naval force” of North Korea.
Unlike Seoul, Pyongyang is a nuclear power, meaning nuclear submarines would allow it to secure a second-strike capability.
The photos shared by KCNA indicate that the new submarine is equipped with five openings for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), in addition to six 533 mm torpedo tubes. North Korea has already tested a number of SLBMs, including the Pukguksong-6 which is said to have a range of up to 12,000 kilometers, and may be developing nuclear-armed land-attack cruise missiles that can be fired from torpedo tubes.
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
Aside from the submarine, Kim also observed the test-firing of a “new-type high-altitude long-range anti-air missile” on December 24, according to KCNA, which said that the new missile successfully hit a mock target at a range of 200 kilometers.
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
Click to see full-size image. (Korean Central News Agency)
All in all, it appears that North Korea’s first nuclear submarine is nearing completion. The submarine could be launched soon, even possibly next year. However, it will likely take much more to enter into service, as it will have to go through extensive testing. Meanwhile, South Korea may not get its first nuclear submarine until 2035.
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the south korean birth rate is so low that in 20 years the north koreans will be able to just walk across the border.
they will be welcomed as heroes by all the old grannies that need help.
because they can’t afford to have kids they can’t afford to buy a house in the republic of samsung as they call it . .they are so overcrowded now .
what is the name of the fat young female innkeeper, who could be considered a big beauty woman, on whom stupid old bashar al-assad had a heart attack and then sohr claimed that the russians poisoned him?
a young fat jewish woman owns a russian tavern and went to bed with stupid old bashar al-assad and the old fool ended up in putler’s hospital…sohr claims he was poisoned, but the truth is much worse. the old fool had a heart attack because of a fat russian she bear.
la-who za-her!
private versus public .secrets aren’t revealed. it’s not the schoolyard .its intrigues involving trillions .
damn impressive, north korea ensuring its sovereignty is protected.
now, this is remarkable
north korea alone could kick the crap out of japan and south korea at the same time. viva kim yong un.
the war to control global trade, shipping and commerce gets another player. changing equations. but the little people will get a new dose of propaganda to follow that does consider the obvious use of peaceful agreements
the western media is always trying to whip up a storm with china and the usadmin has some navy there. perhaps it isn’t china that the usadmin and it nato poodles are really watching?