In what it calls "the beginning of a new chapter" for its navy, North Korea announced the launch of its new "Korean-style" tactical nuclear attack submarine. Meanwhile, South Korean officials have expressed doubts about the ship's functionality.
NoKor Launches New Tactical Sub; SoKor Is Skeptical
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), via a CNN report, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un witnessed the launch of the submarine named "Hero Kim Kun Ok" on Wednesday, September 6.
Kim reportedly boasted that the submarine was "equipped with a large number of nuclear delivery means" and could launch "preemptive and retaliatory strikes against hostile countries." He also reportedly urged that all of the country's medium-sized submarines be upgraded to nuclear capabilities.
However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea (JCS) released a statement on Friday, September 8, dismissing Pyongyang's claim about the ship. JCS argued that the new submarine appeared "not capable of normal operation" and warned there were indications North Korea was attempting to overstate its capabilities.
These reports on the submarine follow North Korea's purported simulation of a nuclear missile launch last weekend, in which it warned the United States of "nuclear war danger."
Meanwhile, US analysts have questioned the effectiveness of the new submarine's missiles and whether or not North Korea could produce more than one.
Pyongyang's Naval Force
North Korea has taken steps in the last year to strengthen its navy with new nuclear weapons, including underwater drones, warships, and its most recent operational missile submarine.
When compared to North Korea's ground forces and its quickly developing ballistic missile program, the Navy has always been a minor player. As a result, Reuters said Leader Kim has declared that the navy would play a crucial part in the country's nuclear deterrent, which some observers believe might potentially bolster national pride and ensure support among naval officers.
When it comes to the fleet size, the Korean People's Army Naval Force (KPANF) possesses around 470 surface vessels, including guided missile ships, torpedo boats, light patrol vessels, and fire support boats.
It has a total of over 70 submarines, including both larger and smaller models. There are also roughly 40 support vessels and 250 landing boats in the Navy's arsenal.
The navy is split between two fleet commands covering the east and west coastlines, with around 60% of the force stationed south of Pyongyang.
"The North Korean Naval Force possesses the capacity to carry out a surprise attack at any time. However, its capacity for deep-sea operations is limited because its force primarily consisted of small, high-speed vessels," as stated in the South Korean military's 2022 Defense White Paper.
