Tae Young-ho "Choe Son-hui to attend North Korea's nuclear submarine launch ceremony instead of Kim Ju-ae... Expected to lead 'nuclear diplomacy'"

"We Must Also Pursue Possession of Nuclear-Powered Submarines"

North Korea has constructed and held a launching ceremony for the 'Kim Gun-ok Hero Ship,' its first tactical nuclear attack submarine capable of underwater nuclear strikes. On this day, Choe Son-hui, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, appeared as the 'launching person' who cut the ship's rope with an axe, instead of Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party, leading to various interpretations. Tae Yong-ho, a member of the People Power Party and former North Korean diplomat, interpreted this as a move considering 'nuclear diplomacy.'

On the 8th, Tae posted on his social media, "The special appointment of Choe Son-hui at the event can be read as a serious diplomatic move to gain recognition of North Korea's 'nuclear-armed status' from neighboring countries such as Russia and China, in line with its status as a 'complete nuclear power' that has deployed nuclear weapons to the sea."

The launching ceremony held on the 6th at the Sinpo Shipyard in South Hamgyong Province was attended not only by the General Secretary but also by Ri Pyong-chol, Secretary of the Workers' Party, Pak Jong-chon, Director of the Party's Military Leadership Department, and Kim Tok-hun, Premier of the Cabinet. Notably, instead of Kim Ju-ae, who had accompanied the General Secretary before, Minister Choe took on the role of the launching person, which Tae claims is a strategic move to promote 'nuclear diplomacy' by putting Choe forward.

Tae stated, "By launching the tactical nuclear attack submarine, North Korea's nuclear threat is shifting to the sea," adding, "The General Secretary called the submarine the 'first fruit of the grand task of building an advanced maritime power.' This implies plans to build more and to equip existing submarines with tactical nuclear missiles."

He also said, "In the reality where North Korea's nuclear threat is moving to the sea, we must strengthen South Korea-US-Japan military cooperation and pursue possession of nuclear-powered submarines."