North Korea Builds First Nuclear-Powered Submarine
North Korea has announced that it is building its first nuclear-powered submarine. Photos released by North Korean state media on Saturday showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a large submarine under construction at a shipyard.
This is the first time North Korea has publicly displayed a nuclear-powered submarine. Military analysts believe the submarine could weigh between 6,000 and 7,000 tons and carry about a dozen missiles, some of which can carry nuclear warheads.
The term “strategic missile nuclear submarine” used in state media reports indicates that the ship is designed to launch ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
The nuclear-powered submarine would be a major upgrade to North Korea’s current fleet, which consists of aging diesel-powered submarines that must be refurbished frequently.
Nuclear-powered submarines can travel long distances without surfacing, making it difficult for the United States and South Korea to detect and respond to missile launches.
Experts warn that if the submarine is put into service, it will pose a serious security threat because North Korea can launch nuclear attacks from the water more secretly.
Unconfirmed reports say North Korea may have received technical support from Russia to develop submarines. Pyongyang may have provided Russia with conventional weapons and even troops to assist in the war in Ukraine in exchange for Russian help building submarine nuclear reactors, according to reports.
North Korea has been subject to severe international sanctions for many years, making it difficult to obtain advanced military technology.
However, some analysts believe that Russian support could help Pyongyang overcome significant technical obstacles in developing nuclear-powered ships.
Kim Jong-un has been seeking advanced military technology for many years. In 2021, China listed a list of advanced weapon systems it intends to develop, including hypersonic weapons, nuclear-powered submarines, spy satellites, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and multiple warhead missiles.
Since then, North Korea has conducted several weapons tests, including submarine-launched ballistic missile tests. However, these tests were conducted using 2,000-ton submarines equipped with a single launch tube.
Many experts believe that the ship is more of a test platform than an operational submarine. North Korea claims to launch its first “tactical nuclear attack submarine” in 2023. But it has not yet been confirmed to be in service.
Kim Jong-un spoke about the importance of modernizing surface ships and submarines during his visit to the shipyard. He said the North Korean navy must have “unparalleled overwhelming warships” to counter the “gunboat diplomacy” of hostile forces.
Analysts expect it will take North Korea one to two years to complete and test the nuclear-powered submarine before it can be deployed. However, given the complexity of nuclear propulsion technology, the timeline may be uncertain.
It is estimated that North Korea currently has 70 to 90 diesel-powered submarines, one of the largest submarine fleets in the world. But most of these ships are outdated and can only fire torpedoes and mines.
