SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has unveiled its first nuclear-powered submarine currently under construction, a development that significantly escalates security concerns for both South Korea and the United States. State media released photos on Saturday showing what they termed "a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine". These announcements were part of a broader report detailing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's visits to key shipyards involved in the construction of military vessels.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not disclose specific details about the submarine, but analysts suggest that it is designed to be in the 6,000-ton to 7,000-ton class and capable of carrying approximately 10 missiles. Moon Keun-sik, a submarine expert from Hanyang University in Seoul, noted that the reference to "strategic guided missiles" implies the submarine would be equipped with nuclear-capable weaponry. He stated, "It would be absolutely threatening to us and the U.S." as North Korea continues its military advancements.
The introduction of a nuclear-powered submarine was part of a broader agenda that Kim outlined during a significant political conference in 2021, where he pledged to develop sophisticated weapons systems to counter what he viewed as escalating military threats from the U.S. This list included solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic weapons, spy satellites, and multi-warhead missiles. Following this commitment, North Korea has engaged in a series of testing activities aimed at acquiring these technologies.
The capability to launch missiles from underwater poses a heightened risk, as such launches are difficult for rival nations to detect in advance. There exists skepticism regarding how North Korea, a country heavily afflicted by sanctions and economic challenges, could obtain the necessary technology and resources to build nuclear-powered submarines. Moon suggested that North Korea might have benefited from Russian technological support in establishing a nuclear reactor for the submarine, potentially in exchange for conventional military weapons and troop support in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Experts believe that the submarine could be operational in one to two years, following tests to validate its capabilities before full deployment. Currently, North Korea is estimated to possess between 70 to 90 diesel-powered submarines, representing one of the world's largest submarine fleets. However, most of these vessels are aging and primarily designed to launch torpedoes and mines rather than missiles.
Earlier in 2023, North Korea claimed to have launched its first "tactical nuclear attack submarine," although international experts raised doubts about this announcement, suggesting it was likely a previously revealed diesel-powered submarine from 2019. Moon confirmed that there has been no independent verification of its deployment. Additionally, since 2016, North Korea has conducted various underwater-launched ballistic missile tests, all executed from a single 2,000-ton-class submarine equipped with one launch tube, which many experts consider more of a testing platform than an operational submarine.
North Korea's aggressive rhetoric against the U.S. and South Korea has intensified in recent days, particularly ahead of the annual military drills scheduled to begin on Monday. During his inspections of the shipyards, Kim emphasized the importance of modernizing both surface and underwater warships concurrently. He called for the development of "incomparably overwhelming warships" to effectively counter what he referred to as "the inveterate gunboat diplomacy of the hostile forces." The KCNA reported these remarks on Saturday, underscoring North Korea's commitment to enhancing its military capabilities.
