North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has issued a stark nuclear warning while showcasing a newly unveiled nuclear-powered submarine, marking a significant escalation in regional military tensions.
A Strategic Naval Display
During a visit to a shipyard on 25 December 2025, Kim Jong-un inspected what state media described as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine. The leader framed the vessel's development as a crucial step in the nuclear armament and modernisation of the North Korean navy. He declared that its completion would represent an "epoch-making" change in bolstering the country's nuclear war deterrent.
Official images released from the visit depicted Kim standing beside a large, burgundy-coloured vessel. Analysis suggests the visible, mostly completed hull could indicate that critical internal components, such as the engine or reactor, may already be installed. This is the first time state media has shown images of the submarine since March, when only lower sections were visible.
Condemnation and Justification
Kim Jong-un used the occasion to launch a fierce condemnation of South Korea. He labelled Seoul's own efforts to acquire advanced naval technology as an "offensive act" that he claimed severely violated North Korea's security and maritime sovereignty. This move by the South, which has also drawn criticism from former US President Donald Trump, was cited by Kim as justification for accelerating his own naval nuclear programme.
The submarine is intended to be armed with nuclear weapons, creating what Pyongyang calls a "strategic guided missile submarine". Such a vessel, capable of stealthy, prolonged underwater operations and submerged missile launches, would present a formidable and difficult-to-detect challenge to regional security.
Family and Future Ambitions
The dictator was accompanied on the visit by his young daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and senior officials. Her public appearances alongside her father have become more frequent, including at a Chinese military parade in September. The nuclear-powered submarine fulfils one item from a long list of advanced weapons systems Kim announced in 2021, which he argued were necessary to counter "growing US-led military threats."
Other weapons on that ambitious list included:
- Solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missiles
- Hypersonic weapons
- Spy satellites
- Multi-warhead missiles
The unveiling underscores Kim Jong-un's persistent drive to advance his military capabilities, directly challenging international non-proliferation efforts and raising the stakes for diplomatic engagement on the Korean peninsula.
