North Korea showcases nuclear submarine progress amid regional tensions
North Korea on Thursday displayed apparent progress in the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, with state media photos showing a largely completed hull, as leader Kim Jong Un condemned rival South Korea’s push to acquire the technology, reports BritPanorama.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim visited a shipyard to inspect the construction of what the North describes as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine. This vessel has been defined by the leader as a crucial step in the modernization and nuclear armament of North Korea’s navy, with indications that it will be armed with nuclear weapons and referred to as a “strategic guided missile submarine” or a “strategic nuclear attack submarine.”
During the visit, Kim criticized South Korea’s moves to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine—backed by U.S. President Donald Trump—as an “offensive act” that significantly violates North Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty. He argued that this South Korean plan emphasizes the need to enhance North Korea’s naval capabilities and stated that the completion of the submarine would represent an “epoch-making” change, strengthening its nuclear deterrent against perceived enemy threats.
The timing of Kim’s shipyard visit was not specified, but the released photos featured him inspecting a large, burgundy-colored vessel under construction. This marks the first instance where North Korean state media has released images of the submarine since March, which primarily showcased the lower sections of the craft.
Experts noted that the largely completed hull suggests essential components, including the engine and possibly the reactor, may already be in place. Moon Keun-sik, a submarine expert at Seoul’s Hanyang University, indicated that the visual evidence might suggest the submarine is nearing launch readiness.
“Showing the entire vessel now seems to indicate that most of the equipment has already been installed, and it is just about ready to be launched into the water,” Moon stated. He anticipates that this North Korean submarine could potentially undergo sea testing within months.
A nuclear-powered submarine was part of a comprehensive armaments upgrade that Kim announced during a political conference in 2021, aimed at addressing what he described as increasing U.S.-led military threats. This wish list included other advanced weaponry such as solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons, with North Korea subsequently conducting various tests to enhance its arsenal.
The prospect of North Korea gaining an ability to launch missiles from underwater is particularly alarming, as such capabilities are harder to detect in advance. However, questions remain about whether North Korea, under significant sanctions and economic constraints, possesses the necessary resources and technology to construct nuclear-powered submarines.
Some experts suggest North Korea’s recent alignment with Russia, which has included sending troops and military equipment to support President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine, may have provided avenues for technological assistance in return.
While some analysts speculate that North Korea might have pursued a reactor from Russia, possibly from a decommissioned submarine, Moon posited that it is more plausible North Korea designed its own reactor with potential technological support from Russia.
In discussions around this military development, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for U.S. backing for South Korea’s nuclear submarine initiative during a summit with Trump, reinforcing commitments to increase defense expenditure. Trump subsequently indicated that the U.S. is open to sharing technology to facilitate South Korea’s ambitions, though specifics regarding the vessel’s construction timeline and nuclear fuel acquisition remain unclear.
In addition to submarine developments, KCNA reported that Kim supervised a test of a new, long-range anti-air missile aimed at the eastern sea on Wednesday, with South Korea’s Defense Ministry remaining silent on this launch.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated significantly in recent years as Kim has ramped up military activities and solidified ties with Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His regime has persistently rebuffed calls from Washington and Seoul to revive diplomatic talks aimed at curtailing his nuclear and missile initiatives, negotiations that collapsed in 2019 after an unsuccessful summit with Trump.
