North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, inspected a construction project for a nuclear-powered submarine with the intention of projecting North Korea's atomic capabilities in waters around the world, according to state media reports on Saturday.
During his visit to a warship construction shipyard, Kim supervised the construction of "a strategic guided missile nuclear-powered submarine." The exact location of these facilities and the specific date of Kim's visit were not provided by North Korean agency KCNA.
In images distributed by KCNA, Kim was seen inspecting the naval construction facilities, where the bow of a large vessel and other cylindrical structures can be observed. This nuclear-powered submarine is part of the advanced weapon systems that Kim committed to developing during the North Korean Workers' Party Congress in 2021.
During his visit, Kim emphasized the importance of developing "overwhelming warships" as a deterrent against threats from enemy hostile forces. According to KCNA, North Korea justifies this need due to hostile naval and submarine military activities that pose a threat to its sovereignty and interests.
In September 2023, North Korea unveiled its first tactical nuclear submarine, capable of carrying out nuclear attacks from the water. On that occasion, Kim announced his plans to build more submarines, including one powered by nuclear propulsion.
