North Korea Introduces ‘Tactical Nuclear Attack’ Submarine, Marking a ‘New Era’
In order to compete with the United States and its Asian allies, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has launched the nation’s first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine.”
Kim presided over the launch of Submarine No. 841 on Wednesday, which was given the moniker Hero Kim Kun Ok in honor of a significant North Korean historical figure.
The submarine, which North Korea’s military designed with the capability to launch tactical nuclear weapons from underwater, “heralded the beginning of a new chapter,” according to KCNA.
Pyongyang did not indicate how many missiles the vessel could hold and fire, but after analyzing images from the official media, several experts hypothesized that it could hold up to ten North Korea’s Pukgoksong-3 weapons.
The Hero Kim Kun Ok will serve as one of the primary undersea offensive methods of the naval force according to Kim and the country plans to hasten the construction of nuclear-powered submarines.
State media reported that the Hero Kim Kun Ok would be deployed to the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.
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North Korea’s Ongoing Weapons Testing
North Korea has tested a variety of weapons in recent years, including what it claimed to be a “new form” of submarine-launched ballistic missile(SLBM), as Kim steps up his efforts to upgrade the country’s arsenal.
The nation is subject to long-standing United Nations sanctions that prohibit it from conducting ballistic missile tests.
Indications that at least one new submarine was being built first came to light in 2016, and in state media images of Kim inspecting an unreported vessel that was built with “his special attention” and would be used in the waters off the east coast in 2019, the construction of at least one new submarine was depicted.
Just the experimental ballistic missile submarine 8.24 Yongung (August 24 Hero) is known to have fired a missile from North Korea’s extensive fleet of submarines.
North Korea is getting ready to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its founding day on Saturday with what is likely to be a sizable parade, and a high-level Chinese delegation is scheduled to arrive there on Friday.
According to the US, Kim will visit Russia this month as well—possibly as soon as next week—to meet with Vladimir Putin.
According to US intelligence estimates, the two men will talk about supplying Moscow with North Korean weaponry. North Korea is reportedly looking for more advanced military systems, including nuclear-powered weapons.
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Source: Al Jazeera
