Kim Jong Un's Naval Strategy Takes Shape: North Korea Unveils First Operational 'Tactical Nuclear Attack' Submarine

In a significant advancement of its naval power, North Korea has launched its first operational “tactical nuclear attack” submarine. This move is part of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un‘s strategy to counter the United States and its Asian allies with a nuclear-armed navy.

What Happened: As reported by Al Jazeera, Kim presided over the launch event of the submarine, named Hero Kim Kun Ok. According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the submarine is capable of launching tactical nuclear weapons from underwater, marking a “new chapter” in North Korea’s naval capabilities.

The submarine will be deployed in the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan and will serve as “one of the core underwater offensive means of the naval force” of North Korea.

Despite UN sanctions prohibiting North Korea from carrying out ballistic missile tests, the country has conducted numerous weapons tests in recent years. Additionally, a senior Chinese delegation is due to arrive in North Korea on Friday, while Kim is expected to travel to Russia this month for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

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Why It Matters: North Korea’s unveiling of its first operational nuclear attack submarine follows recent events indicating Kim’s focus on upgrading the country’s military power.

In late August, Kim called for naval reinforcements in response to growing trilateral military cooperation between South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

Soon after, Kim conducted a “counteraction drill” with mock nuclear warheads in response to joint military activities by the U.S. and South Korea. Prior to the submarine’s launch, satellite imagery suggested that North Korea might be preparing to launch a new missile submarine.

Kim’s meeting with Putin could potentially lead to further developments in North Korea’s military capabilities, given the speculation regarding Russia’s alliance with North Korea. This series of events underscores the increasing tensions and military posturing in the region.

Photo Via Shutterstock

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