(CLO) North Korea is believed to be ready to launch its first nuclear submarine after releasing a photo of leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the project to build the ship.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 8 released photos of what it described as a “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine” when reporting on leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to the country’s warship shipyards.
Leader Kim Jong Un inspects a North Korean shipbuilding facility. Photo: KCNA
According to KCNA, Mr. Kim affirmed that “the country's maritime defense capability... will be fully demonstrated in any necessary sea area without any restrictions” and “developing the navy into an elite and nuclear-armed force is an important content of the national defense development strategy.”
Although North Korea did not provide detailed information about the submarine, nor when Mr. Kim inspected the construction process, it was enough to make South Korea feel worried.
Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert who teaches at Hanyang University in Seoul, said the North Korean vessel appeared to be 6,000 or 7,000 tons and could carry about 10 missiles.
Images show that the ship could have a displacement of up to 6,000 or 7,000 tons and be able to carry nuclear missiles. Photo: KCNA
North Korea is estimated to have a fleet of up to 90 diesel-powered submarines, although most of them are old and can only launch torpedoes and mines, not missiles.
In 2023, Pyongyang claimed to have launched its first "tactical nuclear attack submarine," but foreign experts doubted the announcement and speculated that it was likely the diesel-powered submarine unveiled in 2019.
Since 2016, North Korea has been testing underwater-launched ballistic missiles from the same 2,000-ton, single-tube submarine. Experts have described the vessel as a test platform rather than an operational submarine.
But this time, Pyongyang may be ready to launch a real nuclear-powered attack submarine. South Korean expert Moon Keun-sik said the vessel will likely undergo two years of testing before being officially deployed.
Quang Anh (according to KCNA, France 24, Newsweek)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/trieu-tien-he-lo-tau-ngam-hat-nhan-dau-tien-post337648.html
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