North Korea unveils tactical nuclear submarine, effectiveness in question

North Korea unveiled its first “tactical nuclear attack submarine” on Friday, Sept. 8. According to state media, Submarine No. 841 has been assigned to the fleet that patrols the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan. North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un said the submarine will be one of the main “underwater offensive means of the naval force” of North Korea.

“Based on the valuable experience and technology gained from the construction of Submarine No. 841, we will have to rapidly pursue the process of converting all medium-sized submarines into attack types in order to turn those existing submarines into nuclear submarines at once,” Kim said this week. “Let me assure that in the next five or 10 years, we will have to create an era in which our Navy forces evolve so that we can meet the absolute mission that other military sectors can never replace.”

According to analysts, the submarine appears to have 10 launch tube hatches most likely armed with ballistic and cruise missiles. A former U.S. government weapons expert told Reuters the submarine won’t add much value to North Korea’s more robust land-based nuclear forces.

South Korea’s military said that the submarine didn’t appear ready for normal operations. The military added there were signs North Korea was attempting to exaggerate its capabilities.

“Because it has excessively modified the existing Romeo-class submarine, there may be some limitations in immediately operating it compared to the existing one,” Shin Seung-Ki, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, said. “However, there is a possibility that North Korea has strengthened the internal structure to ensure operation in some way. In that regard, while there may be limitations, it is likely that they will continue to develop it to a level where it can be operated at some point in the future.”