North Korea Unveils Nuclear-Powered Submarine, Raising Regional Security Concerns
Seoul, South Korea – North Korea has publicly revealed the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine for the first time, a development that has ignited concerns about the escalating security risks to South Korea and the United States. State media outlets released photographs on Saturday showcasing what they described as a “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine,” coinciding with reports of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visits to significant shipyards where warships are being constructed.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the state-run media outlet, refrained from providing specific details about the submarine’s capabilities but confirmed that Kim Jong Un received a comprehensive briefing on its construction progress.
Moon Keun-sik, a prominent South Korean submarine expert and professor at Seoul’s Hanyang University, estimated that the naval vessel is likely a 6,000-ton or 7,000-ton class submarine capable of carrying approximately 10 missiles. He emphasized that the designation "strategic guided missiles" strongly suggests that the submarine would be armed with nuclear-capable weapons.
"It would be absolutely threatening to us and the U.S.," Moon stated, underscoring the potential implications of this new military asset.
The development of a nuclear-powered submarine aligns with a long-term strategic objective outlined by Kim Jong Un during a major political conference in 2021. At that time, Kim vowed to introduce a range of sophisticated weaponry to counter what he perceived as escalating U.S.-led military threats. The list included solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, spy satellites, and multi-warhead missiles, all of which North Korea has actively pursued through numerous testing activities.
The acquisition of enhanced underwater missile launch capabilities is particularly concerning because it presents significant challenges for North Korea’s rivals in detecting launches in advance. This stealth capability could potentially alter the strategic balance in the region.
Speculation has arisen regarding how North Korea, a nation subject to heavy sanctions and grappling with economic challenges, has managed to acquire the necessary resources and technology to construct nuclear-powered submarines.
Moon Keun-sik suggested that North Korea may have received technological assistance from Russia in developing a nuclear reactor for the submarine, potentially in exchange for providing conventional weapons and troops to support Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. This alleged collaboration highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play and raises concerns about potential violations of international sanctions.
Moon also predicted that North Korea could launch the submarine within the next one to two years to conduct capability tests before its actual deployment. This timeline suggests that the submarine program is progressing rapidly and could soon become a significant factor in regional security calculations.
North Korea already possesses a substantial submarine fleet, estimated to consist of 70 to 90 diesel-powered submarines, making it one of the largest in the world. However, these submarines are largely aging and primarily equipped with torpedoes and mines, lacking the missile launch capabilities of the newly unveiled nuclear-powered submarine.
In 2023, North Korea claimed to have launched its first "tactical nuclear attack submarine," but international experts expressed skepticism, suggesting that it was likely a diesel-powered submarine that had been disclosed in 2019. Moon noted that there has been no confirmation of its deployment.
Since 2016, North Korea has conducted several underwater-launched ballistic missile tests, but all launches were carried out from the same 2,000-ton class submarine, which has only a single launch tube. Experts generally consider this submarine a test platform rather than an operational submarine in active service.
The unveiling of the nuclear-powered submarine coincides with heightened tensions in the region, as North Korea has intensified its rhetoric against the United States and South Korea in anticipation of their upcoming annual military drills scheduled to begin on Monday.
During his visits to the shipyards, Kim Jong Un emphasized North Korea’s commitment to modernizing both its surface and underwater warships simultaneously. He stressed the importance of developing "incomparably overwhelming warships" to fulfill their mission of containing "the inveterate gunboat diplomacy of the hostile forces," according to KCNA reports.
The launch of this nuclear powered submarine represents a significant step in North Korea’s military capabilities, with the potential to destabilize the region further. It raises questions about the effectiveness of existing sanctions and the potential for further cooperation between North Korea and Russia, impacting the already complicated geopolitics of East Asia. The international community will be closely monitoring North Korea’s next steps regarding this program, as well as the response from South Korea, the United States, and other regional powers.
