North Korea Offers Peek At Under-Construction 'Nuclear-Powered Submarine', Its First

North Korea revealed a nuclear-powered submarine in construction. The vessel can carry about 10 missiles, including nuclear-capable weapons.

File photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

North Korea unveiled for the first time a nuclear-powered submarine under construction, The AP reported.

On Saturday, the state media agency released photos showing what it called 'a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine.'

Yonhap News Agency reported that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, warning that his country's maritime defense capability will be 'fully' projected 'in any necessary waters without limitation.'

Kim visited shipyards focused on building warships, the Korean Central News Agency reported, without giving information of the exact date or location of the inspection.

According to the details, the naval vessel is around be a 6,000-ton-class or 7,000-ton-class one which can carry about 10 missiles, said Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert who teaches at Seoul’s Hanyang University, AP reported. He said that the use of the term “the strategic guided missiles” meant it would carry nuclear-capable weapons.

As per the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a US-based think tank, North Korea is estimated to have between 64 and 86 submarines, one of the world's largest fleets.

North Korea Launched Multiple Short-Range Ballistic Missiles Ahead Of US Elections In 2024

Last year in November, North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, Japan's defence minister Gen Nakatani said. This came after Pyongyang condemned the military drills conducted by its rivals and also hours before the commencement of voting for US presidential election.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong had condemned the drills which involved the United States, Japan, and South Korea, a report published on state media KCNA said.

North Korea launched at least seven missiles, which flew to an altitude of 100 km (62 miles), covering a range of 400 km. Japan's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said the missiles fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone into the ocean, news agency Reuters reported. 

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired at around 7:30 AM from the vicinity of Sariwon, North Hwanghae Province. Following the launches, the US miliary said that it closely monitored the situation and consulted with Japan, South Korea, and other regional allies.