North Korea has unveiled a nuclear-powered submarine under construction for the first time, posing a major security threat to South Korea and the U.S. The submarine is said to be a 6,000 to 7,000-ton-class vessel capable of carrying 10 nuclear-capable missiles. This development is part of North Korea’s plan to acquire sophisticated weaponry, including nuclear-powered submarines, solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, and hypersonic weapons, to counter U.S.-led military threats.
It is believed that North Korea may have received Russian technological assistance to build the nuclear-powered submarine in exchange for conventional weapons and troops to support Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine. While North Korea has conducted underwater-launched ballistic missile tests in the past, experts doubt the operational capability of their submarines.
The unveiling of the nuclear-powered submarine comes as North Korea escalates its fiery rhetoric against the U.S. and South Korea ahead of upcoming military drills. Kim Jong Un emphasized the need to modernize both water-surface and underwater warships to counter the perceived threats from hostile forces.
The development of a nuclear-powered submarine by North Korea is a worrying development as it would be difficult for its rivals to detect underwater missile launches in advance. The submarine is expected to be launched for testing in the next one to two years before actual deployment. Despite North Korea’s large fleet of diesel-powered submarines, their operational capabilities are limited to torpedoes and mines, not missiles.
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