North Korea’s New Weapon Raises Alarm Among Security Experts

North Korea has unveiled plans for a nuclear-powered submarine with missile capabilities, raising alarm among security experts who warn it could dramatically alter the balance of power in the region.

Quick Takes

North Korea announced the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying approximately 10 nuclear-capable missiles.
The submarine could potentially be ready for test runs within two years, intensifying regional security concerns.
Experts question how North Korea acquired advanced nuclear submarine technology, with suspicions pointing to Russian assistance.
Kim Jong Un frames the submarine development as a necessary response to “hostile forces” and US military presence.
The submarine would significantly enhance North Korea’s strategic military capabilities by making its nuclear arsenal more difficult to detect.

North Korea’s New Nuclear Submarine Threat

Images released by North Korean state media show Kim Jong Un inspecting what they describe as a “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine” under construction at key shipyards. Military experts estimate the vessel to be a 6,000-ton or 7,000-ton class submarine with a capacity for approximately 10 missiles, likely nuclear-capable. The development represents a substantial leap in North Korea’s naval capabilities, moving beyond its aging fleet of diesel-powered submarines that are primarily equipped for launching torpedoes and mines rather than strategic missiles.

Moon Keun-sik, a defense expert at South Korea’s Hanyang University, expressed grave concern about the implications of this development, stating, “It would be absolutely threatening to us and the US.”

Strategic Military Implications

The introduction of a nuclear-powered submarine represents a particularly dangerous advancement in North Korea’s arsenal. Unlike conventional submarines, nuclear-powered vessels can remain submerged for extended periods and travel greater distances without surfacing, making them significantly harder to detect and track. This capability would provide North Korea with a more resilient nuclear deterrent by ensuring a second-strike capability even if land-based missile systems were neutralized in a potential conflict.

North Korea has been working toward submarine-launched missile capabilities for years. Since 2016, the regime has conducted underwater ballistic missile tests, though these were launched from test platforms rather than operational submarines. In 2023, North Korea claimed to have launched a “tactical nuclear attack submarine,” but experts expressed skepticism about its actual capabilities compared to the newest vessel under development.

Questions About Technology Acquisition

Security analysts are raising significant questions about how North Korea, under heavy international sanctions, has acquired the sophisticated technology required to build nuclear-powered submarines. Many experts suspect Russian assistance, particularly in light of warming relations between Moscow and Pyongyang amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The timing coincides with reports of North Korea providing military support to Russia, leading to speculation about technology transfers in exchange for weapons and ammunition.

“We’re aware of these claims and do not have additional information to provide at this time,” said US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes in response to the submarine announcement, while emphasizing, “The US is committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.”

The submarine development is part of Kim Jong Un’s broader 2021 pledge to develop advanced weaponry, including solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons. North Korea has also increased anti-US rhetoric in recent months, particularly ahead of the joint US-South Korean military exercises. The submarine announcement came as North Korea continues to reject diplomatic overtures, despite previous engagement attempts during President Trump’s administration.

Timeline and Regional Impact

Military analysts suggest the submarine could potentially undergo initial sea trials within one to two years before formal deployment into North Korea’s naval fleet. If successfully deployed, the submarine would fundamentally alter security calculations throughout Northeast Asia, potentially triggering responses from South Korea, Japan, and the United States. South Korea has already been enhancing its anti-submarine warfare capabilities in anticipation of this development.

While questions remain about North Korea’s technical capacity to successfully operate a nuclear-powered submarine, the mere pursuit of such technology demonstrates Kim Jong Un’s determination to expand his regime’s military capabilities despite international sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The development serves as a stark reminder of the continuing security challenges facing the region and the limited impact that economic pressure has had on North Korea’s military ambitions.