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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the construction project of an 8,700-ton “nuclear-powered strategic guided-missile submarine,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the 25th. His daughter, Ju-ae, accompanied him during the on-site guidance. |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] North Korea has officially unveiled the full exterior of its 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine currently under construction. This revelation is interpreted as a strategic move by leader Kim Jong-un to showcase progress in the "five core tasks for defense development" set during the 8th Party Congress in 2021—specifically the development of nuclear submarines and underwater-launched strategic nuclear weapons. The disclosure further aims to solidify North Korea’s self-proclaimed status as an "irreversible nuclear-armed state" with a viable sea-based nuclear deterrent.
The Rodong Sinmun reported on the 25th that Kim Jong-un conducted an on-site inspection of the "nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine" project. While the report specified the vessel's 8,700-ton displacement, it remained silent on the exact stage of the construction process. Experts suggest that revealing the submarine's exterior at this stage is a calculated display of confidence, signaling that development has reached its final phases.
"Considering standard construction cycles, it is likely that core nuclear modules are already installed inside the hull," said Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU). "Presenting the vessel to the top leader implies that the hull silhouette is complete and the reactor has likely been mounted." This has led to growing concerns among defense circles that North Korea’s operational deployment of a nuclear submarine could outpace South Korea’s own timeline.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stated today, "South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are closely tracking North Korea's weapons development and are currently analyzing the details of this public report." Intelligence agencies are notably not ruling out the possibility that Russia may have transferred entire reactors from decommissioned nuclear submarines to North Korea. This follows previous warnings from military authorities in September that deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang could lead to the transfer of reactor technology for nuclear-powered submarines.
However, some government officials and academics remain cautious. Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University, noted, "Disclosure does not immediately equate to operational deployment. Given the immense technical challenges, even with Russian small-reactor technology, its reliable functionality remains unproven." Similarly, Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, observed that "missile-related structures occupy nearly 50% of the hull," suggesting that the lead ship might still employ a diesel-electric propulsion system as a transitional measure.
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
