A North Korean Submarine Surfaced... Is It Aiming for Additional SLBM Launches?

North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea has drawn attention by exposing a submarine capable of launching submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) above water. This has led to speculation that it may be a move to prepare for additional SLBM launches.

On the 15th, 38 North reported that a Whale-class and Sinpo-class ballistic missile submarine (SSB) was recently confirmed to be stationed in the dry dock at the Sinpo Shipyard in North Korea. A dry dock is a facility used for constructing or repairing submarines and ships, suggesting that the Sinpo-class submarine was moved there for maintenance or repair purposes. This is the first time since the SSB was identified as a new type of submarine in July 2014 that it has been observed above water.

In October, a mobile crane was also seen next to an SLBM test barge docked at the Sinpo Shipyard. This crane is used by North Korea to install or remove missile launch tubes on submarines or barges during SLBM test launches. On the 19th of that month, a new SLBM test launch was conducted near Sinpo using the Whale-class (Sinpo-class) submarine ‘8.24 Hero Ship’.

Some analysts speculate that the recent movements of the SSB could indicate a possibility that North Korea might launch the ‘Pukguksong-4’ or ‘Pukguksong-5’, SLBMs that have not yet undergone test launches.

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