North Korea has released new images of what it says is its first nuclear-powered submarine, with state media showing leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the vessel at an indoor construction facility.
The images, published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, suggest the guided-missile submarine has not yet been launched. However, state media claimed the submarine has a displacement of about 8,700 tonnes, placing it close to the size of the United States Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.
Building a nuclear-powered submarine has been a long-standing ambition of Kim Jong Un, first announced during a ruling Workers’ Party congress in 2021. Recent developments appear to have given the project fresh urgency, especially after South Korea reportedly received approval from the Trump administration to pursue its own nuclear-powered submarine programme.
Nuclear-powered submarines can remain underwater for extended periods, sometimes years, without surfacing, unlike diesel-powered submarines that must regularly come up to run engines. They are also faster and quieter, giving them major strategic advantages. Currently, only a few countries, including the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and India, possess such technology.
While inspecting the submarine, Kim stressed that nuclear-powered vessels are central to Pyongyang’s defence strategy, which he described as being based on “the strongest offensive power.” KCNA quoted him as saying that super-powerful offensive capability remains the best shield for national security.
However, analysts say North Korea’s actions are contributing to rising tensions in the region. Speaking to CNN, Professor Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha Womans University in Seoul said Pyongyang bears responsibility for the growing arms race on the Korean Peninsula. He noted that while nuclear-submarine expansion could increase instability, North Korea’s refusal of diplomacy and heavy focus on military spending have worsened the situation.
The submarine project is part of a broader five-year military plan unveiled in 2021, which includes intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons and new guided-missile destroyers. Despite these efforts, experts say North Korea’s navy still lags behind South Korea’s more advanced fleet in terms of technology and capability.
