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North Korea has released images of the construction of the country’s first “nuclear” submarine, an ambitious project led directly by Kim Jong-un. According to state media KCNA, the North Korean leader personally inspected the shipyard where the vessel is being assembled, reinforcing his intention to transform the nation into an advanced maritime power.
Military analysts say the new submarine could weigh between 6.000 and 7.000 tons and be capable of carrying up to 10 strategic missiles, possibly equipped with nuclear warheads. The construction of this new vessel could represent a milestone for the North Korean naval force, significantly increasing its deterrence capability against the US and its allies.
Footage released by KCNA shows Kim Jong-un visiting the facility where the submarine is being built, accompanied by military personnel and naval engineers. Although few technical details have been revealed, experts estimate that the submarine will have a much greater capacity than the current North Korean fleet, which is mostly made up of older diesel-powered vessels.
The term “strategic guided missile” used by KCNA suggests that the submarine could carry nuclear weapons, making it a potentially greater threat to regional security. With this new technology, North Korea would increase its ability to launch attacks from the sea, making it harder for rivals to detect them in advance.
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The danger of North Korean strategic missile submarines
The possibility that North Korea possesses a submarine capable of launching long-range strategic missiles significantly raises concerns for the US and South Korea. Currently, most of North Korea's ballistic missile arsenal is land-based, making launches more predictable and easier to track.
If the new submarine can operate efficiently, he will be able to launch attacks stealthily, emerging from submerged bases undetected. This strategic change would raise the level of tension in the region and force neighboring countries to reinforce their naval and anti-missile defense systems.
Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert, said a submarine of that size would be “absolutely threatening” to Western allies, especially since the response time against a sea-based attack is significantly shorter.
Russian support? Suspicions about the technology
One of the biggest questions raised by military analysts is how North Korea managed to develop this technology. Although the country has one of the largest submarine fleets in the world, most of the vessels are old and incapable of launching missiles.
Moon Keun-sik pointed out that Russia may have provided technical assistance for the development of a nuclear reactor that will power the submarine. This possible deal could be related to the sending of North Korean troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine.
If this collaboration is confirmed, it would indicate a new level of cooperation between the two countries, with direct implications for global security.
