North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the launch ceremony of his nation’s new “Korean-style” tactical nuclear attack submarine and proclaimed that it will be one of the main “underwater offensive means of the naval force” of the country. It will reportedly be assigned to the fleet that patrols the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
Submarine No. 841 – named for Hero Kim Kun Ok, a North Korean historical figure – was launched to much fanfare on Wednesday. Capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, the boat is capable of “preemptive and retaliatory strikes against hostile countries,” Kim claimed.
“[The] launching ceremony will shoulder no less burden for our enemies than building a nuclear-powered submarine,” the Korean Central News Agency quoted the DPRK leader. “The fact that the nuclear attack submarine, considered a symbol of invasion against our republic for decades, now symbolizes our power that terrifies the shameless enemies and that it is a new attack submarine of our own style unseen by the world, is truly something welcomed by all our people.”
South Korea Condemns the North’s Actions
South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which continues to condemn the development of armaments by the North, offered its reaction to the news of the submarine’s launch.
“It is deplorable that North Korea is adhering to a futile development of weapons and squandering its lacking resources while not paying attention to difficult livelihood affairs,” said Kim In-ae, the ministry’s deputy spokesperson.
Not Capable of Normal Operation
Even as Kim has hyped the capabilities of the submarine, analysts have downplayed its significance. A source at South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff even expressed doubt that the new submarine is operational.
“An analysis of the external features of the North Korean submarine so far shows that parts of it have been enlarged to carry a missile,” the source told the Yonhap news service. “But it is assessed that (the submarine) is not in the form of being capable of normal operation.”
Western analysts said the new submarine is a modified Soviet-era Romeo-class diesel submarine, which Pyongyang acquired from China in the 1970s and began producing domestically. This new version may be capable of launching ballistic missiles, but won’t likely add any value to North Korea’s land-based nuclear forces as the aging submarines are relatively noisy, slow, and have limited range.
The Hermit Kingdom’s Submarine Fleet
According to the non-profit Nuclear Threat Initiative, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) maintains one of the world’s largest submarine fleets, with estimates for the total fleet ranging from about 64 to 86 submarines – including coastal submarines (SSCs), conventional submarines (SS), and mini-submarines (SSMs).
While Pyongyang’s submarine fleet is largely comprised of small coastal submarines suitable for coastal defense, infiltration, and espionage missions, and its larger submarines are based on decades-old Soviet designs, North Korea has attempted to enhance its submarine capabilities.
Even the smaller diesel submarines that operate close to shore and hold a crew of fewer than 30 or 40 sailors have been seen to pose a serious threat to South Korea – both to its military and civilian vessels. In September 1996, North Korea inserted three special operations soldiers via submarine near the city of Gangneung.
Anti-submarine warfare has been a major capability gap in the South’s Republic of Korea Navy. It would appear that North Korea may have one more submarine that the South will have to contend with.
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
