South Korea sees signs of North building large nuclear-powered submarine

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends what state media said was a launching ceremony for a new tactical nuclear attack submarine in North Korea on Sept. 8, 2023.

The South Korean military has detected apparent signs that North Korea has started to build a large nuclear-powered submarine, a Seoul-based lawmaker said on Tuesday, as North Korea’s leader dialed up his threat to use nuclear weapons against its enemies.

North Korea unveiled a submarine “Hero Kim Kun Ok” in September last year, calling it a “tactical nuclear attack submarine,” and vowed that it would build a nuclear-powered submarine.

“Partial signs that appear to be the start of the submarine’s construction have been detected,” said Kang Dae-sik of the ruling People Power Party, who was briefed on the issue by South Korea’s main security organization, the Defense Intelligence Agency.

“As construction is still in its early stages, further confirmation is needed on whether it is nuclear powered,” Kang added, without providing details.

South Korea’s military, however, said the submarine did not appear to be ready for normal operations.

Military sources told media that the key equipment that goes into a nuclear-powered submarine, such as a nuclear reactor, is not yet believed to be available to North Korea. However, the military is still thought to be considering the possibility of nuclear-power since the new submarine may be larger than existing vessels.

North Korea operates approximately 70 submarines, including midget submarines, while South Korea’s submarine force consists of about 10 vessels, according to the South’s Defense White Paper published in 2023.

The South’s analysis came as North Korean leader Kim threatened again to use nuclear weapons if enemies attempted to use armed force against it.

“All military force will be used without hesitation if enemies attempt to use force against our country, and the use of nuclear weapons will not be ruled out,” Kim said in a speech during his visit to the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense on Monday, cited by the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency.

“At a time when the South Korea-U.S. alliance has completely been transformed into a nuclear alliance, as they advertised, our nation’s nuclear response posture should be completed to a height that does not have any limit.

“The only way for South Korea to live safely is for us not to use military force, and not to play a power game with us.”

It was the second time in a week that Kim has threatened to use his nuclear arsenal.

Kim said last week that North Korea would use nuclear weapons “without hesitation” if its territory was attacked by the United States and its ally South Korea.

That warning came after South Korea said that the North Korean regime would be finished if it tried to use its nuclear weapons.

Edited by Mike Firn.

By:RFA