Kathmandu | North Korea has released new images showcasing significant progress on its first-ever nuclear-powered submarine, a massive vessel that appears comparable in size to the primary attack submarines of the United States Navy. State-run media on Thursday published photos of leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the construction of the 8,700-ton “strategic guided-missile submarine” at an undisclosed indoor facility. The images show a largely completed hull, indicating that while the vessel has not yet been launched, it is in an advanced stage of production. This project has been a long-standing strategic goal for Kim, who first officially proposed the acquisition of nuclear propulsion technology during a 2021 Workers’ Party congress to counter what he perceives as growing maritime threats.
The push for this advanced technology has intensified recently following a new agreement between the Trump administration and South Korea, which paves the way for Seoul to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines. Nuclear-powered vessels offer a decisive tactical advantage over traditional diesel-electric models because they do not require atmospheric air to charge batteries, allowing them to remain submerged and undetected for years at a time—limited only by the provisions for the crew. They are also significantly faster and quieter than conventional submarines. Currently, only six nations—the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and India—possess the specialized technology required to operate such a fleet. North Korea’s claim of an 8,700-ton displacement would put its new submarine in the same class as the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarines, marking a major shift in the regional naval balance of power.
During his inspection, Kim Jong Un described the project as an “urgent task” and an “indispensable option” for the modernization and nuclear weaponization of the North Korean naval force. He sharply criticized the U.S.-South Korea deal as an “offensive act” that violates North Korea’s sovereignty, justifying his own rapid military escalation. Analysts suggest that the timing of these photos is a calculated move to demonstrate that Pyongyang remains a potent nuclear power capable of matching the technological advancements of its rivals. While the international community remains skeptical of some of the technical claims, the visual evidence of the massive hull suggests that North Korea is closer than ever to achieving a sea-based nuclear deterrent.
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