North Korea today unveiled what is believed to be their first ever nuclear-powered strategic guided-missile submarine, under construction at an “undisclosed” shipyard alongside several other semi-modern to modern naval vessels. Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert, said that the vessel appeared to be a 6,000-ton-class or 7,000-ton-class submarine which can carry about 10 missiles, stating that the term “strategic guided-missile” suggested that it would carry nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. Despite North Korea possessing an aging fleet of roughly 70 diesel-powered submarines, it is not known how such a heavily sanctioned country could have obtained a nuclear reactor, though it is believed it was likely provided or they had assistance from Russia, possibly in exchange for them recently joining Russia’s war against Ukraine.
