North Korea seems to be building a new submarine, possibly one that could use nuclear power. This news comes from a South Korean official and fits with earlier reports. Last September, North Korea launched a redesigned submarine from the Cold War era called the “Hero Kim Kun Ok,” which can carry ballistic missiles.
According to South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency, there are early signs of construction for this new submarine. They mentioned, “We’ve detected signs that construction might have started,” but added that more information is needed to confirm if it will be nuclear-powered.
Where is It Being Built?
The new submarine is likely being built at the Pongdae Submarine Factory, located in northeastern North Korea. An unnamed military official said that this submarine is bigger than any that North Korea has built before. However, details about its weight and features will become clearer as construction progresses.
The South Korean military believes this submarine could be nuclear-powered mainly due to its size. So far, there’s no public proof that North Korea has created a nuclear reactor suitable for a submarine. Still, North Korean leaders have hinted at plans for a nuclear-powered submarine.
In January 2021, Kim Jong Un announced that the design for a new nuclear-powered submarine was being finalized and that various weapons and sensors for it had already been designed.
Recent Developments
On September 6, 2023, Kim oversaw the launch of the “Hero Kim Kun Ok,” which is a modified diesel-electric submarine. After this launch, state media mentioned plans for a future nuclear-powered submarine. Earlier this year, Kim reportedly visited a nuclear-powered submarine under construction and oversaw a test of a strategic cruise missile. However, no photos or detailed information about this submarine have been released, with Sinpo again identified as the construction site.
Despite these developments, it remains uncertain if North Korea can successfully create a nuclear-powered submarine. Historically, creating submarine reactors has been a complex challenge. However, North Korea’s increasing ties with Russia could provide them with the technological help they need, especially after North Korea began supporting Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.
Looking Ahead
The “Hero Kim Kun Ok” submarine is essentially a reworked version of an older Soviet-designed submarine, modified to launch ballistic missiles from the sea. While it may look unusual, it highlights North Korea’s goal of building a second-strike nuclear capability, which would allow them to retaliate after a nuclear attack.
The existing submarines that North Korea has, like the Gorae class, have had limited success. As such, developing a new, larger submarine makes sense as a next step. North Korea has also faced challenges with its submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), struggling to find suitable submarines to launch them from. Yet, they continue to develop bigger SLBMs without having the right-sized submarines to carry them.
If the new submarine does turn out to be nuclear-powered, it might also serve as an attack submarine, although North Korea appears to focus more on launching missiles than on traditional submarine combat roles. This new submarine could be a testing ground for new technologies, especially if they are receiving help from Russia.
Analysts like Alex Luck suggest that while a nuclear-powered design is possible, North Korea would face significant technical hurdles unless they get help from other countries. He mentions that the new submarine could be a hybrid model, which combines conventional and nuclear capabilities.
A Broader Context
Despite the challenges, North Korea’s submarine fleet is still larger than South Korea’s, with as many as 86 submarines compared to South Korea’s 21. However, South Korea is also developing its submarine-launched missile capabilities, and there are discussions about potentially introducing nuclear capabilities in the future due to increasing tensions in the region.
While it’s too early to draw any definitive conclusions about the new submarine, there’s no doubt that submarines, especially those capable of serving as a second-strike deterrent, are a key priority for North Korea. The coming months may reveal more about this development, but for now, the focus is on how North Korea plans to advance its submarine technology.
