Pyongyang reveals large nuclear-powered submarine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un revealed his commitment to advancing the navy's nuclear armament after inspecting the construction of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered “strategic guided missile submarine,” accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju and daughter Ju-ae, state media reported on Dec. 25. / Yonhap via KCNA

North Korea has unveiled the hull of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine, a move widely seen as aimed at countering South Korea’s push to build its own nuclear-powered submarines and bolstering Pyongyang’s nuclear deterrence at sea.

The Rodong Sinmun, the North’s ruling party newspaper, on Thursday ran front-page photos of what it described as a “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine” under construction, calling the project a “historic and transformative change” to the country’s war deterrence capabilities.

Images published by state media suggest the vessel’s external structure is largely complete, fueling speculation that a compact nuclear reactor — essential for submarine operations — may already have been installed. Observers also noted structures resembling submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launch tubes near the conning tower, similar to those seen on the North’s 3,000-ton Kim Kun-ok-class submarine.

North Korea first identified nuclear-powered submarines as a core priority under its “five key tasks for defense development” announced at the Eighth Workers’ Party Congress in 2021, and has since highlighted the program as central to strengthening its naval forces.

During an on-site inspection of the project on Wednesday, leader Kim Jong Un said the country had built a “nuclear shield” to safeguard national security and now possessed the capability to expand it as needed, according to state broadcaster KCNA. He reiterated a strategic policy of continuing the nuclear armament of the navy.

Questions remain, however, over whether North Korea currently has the technological capacity to operate a submarine of this size. While Pyongyang is believed to possess highly enriched uranium for fuel, doubts persist over its ability to independently develop compact reactors and advanced large-submarine construction technologies.

As a result, analysts point to the possibility of technical assistance from Russia, amid rapidly deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow following the Russia–Ukraine war. Some observers suggest North Korea may have received reactor-related technology or even decommissioned submarine components from Russia.

The timing of the disclosure has also drawn attention, coming as South Korea’s discussions on building nuclear-powered submarines gain momentum. Experts say the public reveal may be intended as a show of force toward Seoul.

Cho Han-bum, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said the apparent placement of SLBM launch tubes near the conning tower indicates lingering technical limitations. “It appears to be a hastily staged disclosure meant to respond to South Korea’s nuclear submarine debate,” he said.

ⓒ "젊은 파워, 모바일 넘버원 아시아투데이"