North Korea's First Tactical Nuclear Attack Submarine... "We Need to See if It Can Actually Be Operated"

Interview with Min Jeong-hoon, Professor at the Americas Research Department, Korea National Diplomatic Academy
"It will take time before results of nuclear-powered submarines emerge"

North Korea announced that it has built the 'Kim Gun-ok Hero Ship,' the first tactical nuclear attack submarine capable of underwater nuclear strikes, while Min Jeong-hoon, a professor at the Americas Research Department of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, took a cautious stance, saying, "We need to see whether it can actually be operated."

On the 8th, Professor Min said on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' program, "Regarding the extent and type of nuclear capability and whether it can actually be operated, our military is showing a very cautious attitude, so we need to wait and see," adding, "We need to analyze coldly how reliable this information is."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the launching ceremony of the first tactical nuclear attack submarine, Kim Gun-ok Hero Ship, was held on the 6th, with Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, also in attendance. Kim said it "symbolizes our revolutionary power that terrifies shameless enemies," and announced plans to build a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) in the future. The nuclear-powered submarine is one of the five major defense tasks ordered by Chairman Kim in 2021.

When asked by the host whether the nuclear-powered submarine would be completed soon, Professor Min said, "It is not easy for North Korea to independently make breakthrough advancements in nuclear capabilities under sanctions," adding, "They need help from Russia or China, but Russia has been very cautious lately, so it will take more time before any progress or results come out."

Recently, as North Korea and Russia have grown closer, concerns have arisen that Russia might transfer nuclear-powered submarine technology in exchange for receiving North Korea's conventional weapons. Professor Min said, "North Korea is likely providing ammunition and conventional weapons that Russia needs, and they are probably engaged in intense discussions about what they can exchange for in return."

However, Professor Min pointed out that Russia would not easily transfer advanced technology. He said, "From a strategic perspective, Russia would consider whether supplying conventional weapons to North Korea under these circumstances and transferring advanced technology would be an equivalent exchange," adding, "Russians are very pragmatic, and they are contemplating whether North Korea having such technology would be a plus or a minus for Russia. Because of this, we need to watch more carefully and cautiously."

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