North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has presented what his regime describes as the country's first nuclear-powered submarine, marking a significant and provocative step in its military expansion. The unveiling took place on Thursday, with state media releasing images of Kim touring the massive vessel alongside his young daughter, who is widely believed to be his heir.
A Strategic Leap in Naval Power
The submarine, reported to weigh approximately 8,700 tonnes, represents a potential quantum leap in Pyongyang's naval capabilities. Analysts observing the images note that the hull appears largely complete, suggesting the vessel could be ready for sea trials within months. Moon Geun-sik, a former submarine officer and academic at Seoul's Hanyang University, stated that showing the entire craft indicates most equipment is already installed and it is nearly ready for launch.
This new class of submarine is said to be as large as the US Navy's Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines and would rival the UK's four Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines. Currently, only Russia, China, France, India, and the United States operate nuclear-powered submarines. Such vessels offer major advantages: they are faster, can operate more quietly, and possess virtually unlimited endurance, being able to remain submerged for years without refuelling.
Escalating an Arms Race
Kim Jong Un, 41, hailed the construction as an 'epoch-making change' in the nuclear arms race, directly linking the project to perceived threats from enemies. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the dictator framed the development as the 'best shield for national security'.
This drive accelerated after South Korea received permission from the former Trump administration to pursue its own nuclear-powered submarine. Kim labelled Seoul's move an 'offensive act' that gravely infringed on North Korea's security. The revelation comes amid a sustained military build-up under a five-year plan announced in 2021, though the programme has faced setbacks, including a new naval destroyer capsizing during its launch in May.
Regional Tensions and International Condemnation
The submarine unveiling was swiftly followed by a long-range surface-to-air missile test over the East Sea on Wednesday, which KCNA claimed successfully destroyed a target 120 miles away. This pattern of behaviour has drawn sharp criticism from regional experts.
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, told CNN that while Kim is correct that such a build-up increases instability, 'he has himself to blame for the arms race.' Easley accused Pyongyang of disavowing diplomacy, threatening neighbours with nuclear weapons, and deepening its people's suffering by prioritising military might over economic development.
In a show of deepening alliances, KCNA also reported that Kim recently received a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who praised the 'heroic' role of North Korean soldiers in the war in Ukraine, strengthening the bond between the two pariah states.
Experts now predict it could be less than two years before North Korea begins conducting missile tests from this new underwater platform, setting the stage for a dangerous new chapter in Northeast Asian security.
