North Korea has showcased significant progress in constructing a nuclear-powered submarine, releasing images of a largely completed hull during a visit by leader Kim Jong Un. The move comes as Kim issued a stark condemnation of rival South Korea's parallel efforts to acquire similar technology, escalating tensions on the peninsula.
Kim's Inspection and Strategic Ambitions
State media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that Kim inspected the construction of what it describes as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine at an undisclosed shipyard. The visit, which included senior officials and his daughter, marks the first public images of the vessel since March. The photos reveal a huge, burgundy-coloured hull coated in anti-corrosion paint inside an assembly hall.
Kim declared the submarine a crucial element in the nuclear armament of North Korea's navy, calling its future completion an "epoch-making" change for the country's nuclear war deterrent. He specifically labelled the vessel a "strategic guided missile submarine" or "strategic nuclear attack submarine," indicating plans to arm it with nuclear weapons.
Condemnation of South Korea and Regional Implications
During the inspection, Kim took direct aim at South Korea's ambitions to build a nuclear-powered submarine, efforts which have received backing from former US President Donald Trump. He described Seoul's plan as an "offensive act" that violates the North's security and maritime sovereignty.
This development follows a November summit where South Korean President Lee Jae Myung sought US support for its submarine programme. Trump later expressed openness to sharing the closely held technology, though significant questions about fuel and reactor sourcing remain.
Submarine expert Moon Keun-sik, a former South Korean navy officer, analysed the new imagery. "Showing the entire vessel now seems to indicate that most of the equipment has already been installed," he said, suggesting the submarine could be launched and tested at sea within months. The ability to fire missiles from underwater represents a major strategic concern, as such launches are notoriously difficult to detect in advance.
Technological Hurdles and Russian Alignment
Analysts have long questioned whether the heavily sanctioned and impoverished North could independently obtain the resources and technology for such an advanced project. The recent alignment with Russia, including North Korean support for President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, has led to widespread speculation about technological assistance.
While some suspect North Korea may have sought a reactor from a retired Russian submarine, expert Moon Keun-sik believes it is more likely Pyongyang designed its own reactor, potentially with some Russian technical aid. The submarine was part of a wish list of advanced weapons Kim announced in 2021, which has since driven a run of testing activities.
In a separate show of force, KCNA reported that Kim supervised a test of a new long-range anti-air missile fired toward the East Sea on Wednesday. These actions underscore a deepening military standoff, with Kim accelerating his nuclear programme and dismissing calls from Washington and Seoul to return to denuclearisation talks, which collapsed in 2019.
