US-Korea Intelligence Agencies: North Korea Completes Construction of 3,000-ton Submarine

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that North Korea has completed the construction of a 3000-ton submarine and is weighing the timing of its launching ceremony.

According to Yonhap News Agency, multiple government sources stated on the 11th, "The joint assessment of South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies is that the construction of the 3000-ton submarine, which North Korea unveiled in July 2019, has already been completed."

One source said, "South Korea and the U.S. evaluated that the construction work was completed by synthesizing various signals intelligence (SIGINT), including the trends at the Sinpo Shipyard in North Korea."

The military and intelligence agencies estimate that the 3000-ton submarine, built by modifying a Romeo-class (1800-ton) submarine, has a beam of 7 meters and a length of around 80 meters, and is equipped with three submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

This submarine was constructed inside a large building at the Sinpo Shipyard measuring approximately 190 meters in length and 36 meters in width. Earlier, in July 2019, a scene showing Chairman Kim Jong-un inspecting the site was released, revealing the ongoing construction.

Since then, South Korean and U.S. military and intelligence agencies have been tracking it, but because North Korea conducted the work inside an enclosed building, it was difficult to identify specific construction progress even with U.S. reconnaissance satellites.

South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies analyze that North Korea is considering the timing of the launching ceremony aiming for strategic effects.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.