On December 25, 2025, North Korean state media KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un had inspected the construction of an 8,700-ton “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine” at a domestic shipyard. According to the KCNA report and the photographs released with it, the vessel is intended to serve as a strategic nuclear attack submarine within the country’s naval modernization plans. The images show a large hull on a building cradle in red anti-corrosion primer, indicating a project that has progressed beyond the conceptual stage but is still under construction. KCNA describes the submarine as nuclear-powered, though the existence and maturity of any naval reactor have not been confirmed from open sources. The appearance of such a platform is relevant because it suggests a move toward a more survivable, sea-based component of North Korea’s nuclear forces, with potential consequences for deterrence and crisis stability on the Korean Peninsula. Read Full Defense News At This Link.
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| North Korea’s 8,700-ton submarine, described as a nuclear-powered guided missile platform, would represent a major leap in size and capability, potentially enabling longer, stealthier patrols and a more survivable sea-based nuclear force, though its propulsion and operational maturity remain uncertain (Picture Source: North Korean State Media Agency) |