North Korea has revealed significant progress in the construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine, with state media releasing photos showing leader Kim Jong Un inspecting what appears to be a largely completed 8,700-ton vessel.
The Christmas Day release marks the first update on the nuclear-powered submarine since March, with earlier images mostly showing only the lower sections of the vessel. The new photos show Kim inspecting a massive burgundy-colored hull coated with anti-corrosion paint inside an assembly hall, accompanied by senior officials and his daughter.
According to submarine expert Moon Keun-sik of Seoul's Hanyang University, "Showing the entire vessel now seems to indicate that most of the equipment has already been installed and it is just about ready to be launched into the water." He added that North Korea's submarine could be ready for sea testing within months.
The development has raised concerns about how the heavily sanctioned and impoverished country obtained the resources and technology for such an ambitious project. Experts suggest North Korea's recent alignment with Russia—including sending thousands of troops to support President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine—may have resulted in technological assistance in return.
Kim described South Korea's efforts to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine, which have been backed by US President Donald Trump, as an "offensive act" that severely violates the North's security and maritime sovereignty. The development signals an intensifying nuclear submarine arms race on the Korean Peninsula.
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