Pyongyang has released images of the vessel as Kim Jong-un toured major shipyards
North Korea has revealed its first nuclear submarine and published photos showing leader Kim Jong-un inspecting it during a visit to major shipbuilding facilities.
State media reported Saturday that the vessel is a “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine.”
The undated images didn’t specify the shipyard’s location, and the report omitted vessel specifics but noted Kim was briefed on the construction.
Pyongyang aims to incorporate nuclear-powered submarines into its navy to counter perceived military threats from the U.S. and its allies in the region.
The Nuclear Threat Initiative states North Korea possesses one of the largest submarine fleets globally, estimated between 70 and 90. However, many experts believe most are outdated, potentially not fully functional, and might lack missile-launching capabilities.
In 2023, North Korea claimed the launch of its first “tactical nuclear attack submarine,” a Sinpo-C class, allegedly capable of launching ten nuclear missiles while submerged. Kim then announced plans to construct more submarines, including a nuclear-powered one.
Last year, the nation also started building a new “modern naval base” to accommodate larger, more advanced warships and submarines anticipated to enter service in the coming years.
South Korean submarine expert Moon Keun-sik told AP that the newly revealed submarine appears to be a 6,000- or 7,000-ton vessel, able to carry about ten missiles. He suggested the term ‘strategic guided missiles’ likely means it’s designed to carry nuclear weapons. If deployed, he asserted, it “would be absolutely threatening to [South Korea] and the US.”
Kim’s shipyard visit precedes the annual U.S.-South Korea military exercises, scheduled to begin Monday. Pyongyang consistently condemns these exercises, viewing them as invasion rehearsals.
During his tour, Kim emphasized modernizing North Korea’s naval forces, calling its warships – both surface and underwater – a vital deterrent against what he termed the “inveterate gunboat diplomacy of hostile forces.”
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