North Korea’s announcement of a new nuclear attack submarine, purportedly named “Hero Kim Kun Ok,” has garnered significant attention for its potential impact on regional security dynamics. The submarine is said to be designed to launch tactical nuclear weapons from underwater, as reported by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). According to statements made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the vessel represents an essential step towards establishing a nuclear-armed navy capable of countering the United States and its Asian allies.
The unveiling of this new submarine coincides with Kim’s declared “urgent task” of building a nuclear-capable military. Furthermore, he mentioned plans to pursue a nuclear-propelled submarine and to upgrade existing submarines and surface vessels to handle nuclear weapons. Photos released by state media suggest that the new submarine might be a modified version of a Soviet-era Romeo-class submarine, featuring at least ten launch tubes, with varying sizes potentially designed for missile launches.
However, this development has been met with skepticism from South Korea’s military, which asserts that North Korea may be exaggerating the submarine’s capabilities. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff pointed out that while North Korea had to enlarge certain sections of the vessel to accommodate missile systems, there are signs that the submarine “could not be operated normally,” indicating possible limitations or inefficiencies.
Analysts have expressed doubts about the immediate operational impact of the submarine, given the technological and resource constraints faced by the heavily sanctioned country. Ankit Panda, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that despite being based on dated technology, “in terms of complicating the targeting challenges that the U.S. and its allies will face, the submarine will serve North Korea’s purposes.”
Speculation is rife over North Korea’s intentions behind this move, with some analysts suggesting it could be part of efforts to strengthen military cooperation with Russia or to secure economic aid and advanced weapons technologies in exchange for supporting Russia with armaments for its war in Ukraine.
While North Korea’s new submarine raises concerns over a possible escalation in the arms race in East Asia, it highlights the complex and evolving nature of military capabilities in the region. The KCNA statements and North Korea’s military advancements come at a time when the United States maintains a considerable nuclear arsenal, with the Department of Defense holding an estimated stockpile of 3,708 nuclear warheads, of which roughly 1,770 are deployed.
Relevant articles:
– North Korea Appears to Be Building New Submarine for Attacks, Group Says , Bloomberg, 05/09/2024
– North Korea appears to be building new submarine for attacks, research group says, The Straits Times, 05/09/2024
– United States nuclear weapons, 2024, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 05/07/2024
– US won’t guarantee Australia will have complete control of Aukus submarines, The Guardian, 05/07/2024
– Ukraine-Russia war: Latest updates, Sky News, 05/09/2024