North Korea has taken a major step forward in its military goals, releasing photographs that appear to show a new submarine equipped with a nuclear engine. State media agency KCNA published the images on Thursday, showing leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the massive vessel at a shipyard. This development, if confirmed, marks a significant leap in technology for the isolated nation. It fulfils a promise made by Mr Kim five years ago to build a nuclear-powered submarine capable of travelling long distances underwater without being detected.
The photos reveal a submarine that experts estimate to be around 8,700 tonnes. This is much larger than the vessels North Korea has operated in the past. In the images, Mr Kim is seen walking along a gantry next to the black hull, which appears largely complete. According to the reports, the submarine is designed to carry nuclear-tipped missiles and can remain submerged for months at a time. This specific capability—staying underwater without needing fresh air—is what makes nuclear submarines so dangerous and difficult to track.
