Kim Jong-un inspects nuclear submarine construction project, announces goals

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a nuclear-powered submarine construction project, according to KCNA news agency today, March 8.

During his inspection of the submarine project, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un looked at "a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine" being built under a defense decision announced at a key party congress in 2021, according to KCNA.

The phrase “a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine” could indicate that it is a nuclear-powered submarine capable of launching submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), commonly known as a ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). This is the first time that North Korea has publicly revealed the construction of an SSBN and what it looks like, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Photo released by KCNA on March 8 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (front row, center) inspecting a shipbuilding project at an undisclosed location in North Korea.

Nuclear-powered submarines are among the sophisticated weapons systems that Mr. Kim pledged to develop at the party congress. Those sophisticated weapons systems also include spy satellites and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles.

While inspecting the new submarine project, leader Kim stressed the need to develop “overwhelming warships” as a powerful deterrent to curb the “gunboat diplomacy” of hostile forces. According to KCNA, Kim “said the DPRK will never stand idly by and watch the enemy’s military activities at sea and underwater that gravely threaten the sovereignty and interests of the DPRK by continuously deploying large numbers of strategic assets.”

Mr. Kim "asserted that the maritime defense capability of the DPRK, which is now in a responsible and key position in defending peace on the Korean peninsula and the region, will be fully displayed in any necessary waters without any limitation," according to KCNA.

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Mr. Kim also set the task of modernizing North Korea's naval and underwater vessels, including the goal of developing and possessing warships, according to KCNA.

In September 2023, Pyongyang unveiled its first tactical nuclear attack submarine capable of carrying out an underwater nuclear attack. At the time, Kim announced plans to build more submarines, including nuclear-powered ones, according to Yonhap.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-kim-jong-un-thi-sat-du-an-dong-tau-ngam-hat-nhan-cong-bo-muc-tieu-185250308145749234.htm