Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, participated in a ceremony that was held to unveil what Pyongyang claims is the country’s first submarine that is capable of firing nuclear bombs.
The nation’s state media reported that the submarine made the nation’s nuclear deterrent “leaps and bounds” stronger.
It was given the name Hero Kim Kun Ok, after a historical hero who was a naval officer for the North Korean navy.
The construction of a nuclear-armed submarine has been on the list of North Korea’s desired weapons for quite some time.
Mr. Kim is pictured standing in a shipyard, surrounded by naval personnel, and overshadowed by a massive black submarine in images that were issued by state media.
He is reported to have said that the submarine will be one of the primary means by which the navy will conduct its “underwater offensive.”
“The nuclear attack submarine, which has been a symbol of aggression against our nation for the past few decades, now symbolizes our threatening power that strikes fear into the hearts of our unscrupulous enemies,” he added. “The nuclear attack submarine has been a symbol of aggression against our nation for the past few decades.”
However, there is a degree of skepticism regarding how successful it will be.
It is believed to be a Romeo-class submarine from the era of the Soviet Union, which Mr. Kim examined in 2019, but analysts believe it has been upgraded to carry nuclear weapons.
“As a platform, it will have some fundamental limitations and vulnerabilities,” said Joseph Dempsey, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
According to Vann Van Diepen, a former weapons analyst for the United States government, who talked with the Reuters news agency, some of these drawbacks include being loud, slow, and having a limited range.
Which missiles has North Korea been conducting test launches with?
According to Mr. Dempsey, it seems as though the stern and propellers of the submarine have been blurred in order to hide the fact that the vessel is an older one.
We do not know whether or whether this submarine is currently in operation. The North Koreans have not yet provided evidence that they are capable of firing nuclear-capable rockets successfully.
It is believed that the ship was built with the capability of carrying shorter-range submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM), which are able to attack regional targets.
South Korea has issued a strong condemnation of the launch and questioned the capabilities of the submarine, claiming that North Korea may have inflated such capabilities.
Japan is equally concerned about the situation. According to Reuters, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that North Korea’s military activity “poses a graver and more imminent threat to our country’s security than it did before.”
Following a major rise in the number of tests that were carried out in 2022, North Korea has continued to conduct frequent testing of ballistic and cruise missiles throughout this year.
The discovery of the submarine comes just a few days before the North celebrates the milestone of 75 years since its founding. According to statements made by state media, a delegation from China would be deployed to take part in the celebrations.
In addition to this, it follows allegations that Mr. Kim intends to visit to Russia later this month in order to meet with President Vladimir Putin.
Concerns have been raised that, in exchange for aid, North Korea would inquire about more sophisticated weaponry from Moscow.
