Reports say Russia may have helped Pyongyang in developing it
SEOUL: North Korea has revealed its first nuclear-powered submarine, posing a significant security threat to South Korea and the US. State media released photos showcasing the submarine, dubbed “a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine,” during leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to major shipyards.
The submarine’s development marks a major milestone in North Korea’s naval capabilities, providing a second-strike nuclear deterrent.
Experts suggest that Russia may have played a role in helping North Korea overcome technical challenges in creating the nuclear-powered submarine.
Kim Jong Un visits shipyards
State media released images on Saturday showing leader Kim Jong Un visiting major shipyards where warships are being built. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) referred to the vessel as “a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine.”
Experts suggest the submarine could be a 6,000 to 7,000-ton-class vessel, possibly carrying around 10 missiles. Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert from Hanyang University, noted that the term “strategic guided missiles” likely means it will be armed with nuclear-capable weapons.
“It would be absolutely threatening to us and the US,” Moon told AP.
North Korea’s military ambitions
Kim had previously pledged to develop advanced weaponry, including nuclear submarines, as part of a military expansion plan announced in 2021. Other goals included hypersonic weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles, spy satellites, and multi-warhead missiles. Since then, North Korea has carried out multiple weapons tests.
The ability to fire missiles from underwater is particularly concerning, as it makes detection much harder for its adversaries.
Doubts over North Korea’s capabilities
There are questions about how North Korea, under heavy sanctions and facing economic difficulties, has obtained the technology and resources needed to build a nuclear-powered submarine.
Moon suggested that North Korea might have received “Russian technological assistance” in exchange for supplying conventional weapons and possibly even troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. He added that North Korea could launch the submarine within one or two years to test its capabilities before putting it into active service.
North Korea currently has an estimated 70 to 90 submarines, but most are old and can only launch torpedoes and mines, not missiles.
Rising tensions with the US and South Korea
North Korea has been increasing its threats against the US and South Korea, particularly ahead of their annual military exercises set to begin on Monday.
During his visits to the shipyards, Kim Jong Un stressed the importance of modernising both surface and underwater warships.
KCNA quoted him as saying that North Korea aims to build “incomparably overwhelming warships” to counter “the inveterate gunboat diplomacy of the hostile forces.”
Agencies