North Korea recently launched its new “tactical nuclear attack submarine” in a ceremony led by Kim Jong Un called Hero Kim Kun Ok. This event shows North Korea’s commitment to strengthening its defense abilities.
During the ceremony, Kim Jong Un talked about making the Navy more powerful with nuclear weapons. He said it’s important to give the Navy nuclear weapons so they can do their job better.
Kim personally checked the submarine before it goes on a test trip. He said they need to get more underwater and surface ships ready with nuclear weapons for the Navy.
People noticed a new submarine being built in 2016, but there weren’t many details until now. The submarine seems like it’s made to carry missiles, but we don’t know what kind yet. North Korea has tested long-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles, short-range ones, and cruise missiles from submarines before.
We don’t know if North Korea has made small enough nuclear warheads to fit on these missiles. If they did, it would be a big deal.
North Korea has a lot of submarines, but only one, called 8.24 Yongung, has launched a missile before. Experts like Tal Inbar think this new submarine might be able to launch both ballistic and cruise missiles, which would make North Korea’s military even stronger.