North Korea on Friday launched a purported nuclear attack submarine it has been developing for years, state media reported. The submarine, named the Hero Kim Kun Ok, was launched at a ceremony in the Sinpho shipyard on the North’s east coast. Leader Kim Jong Un attended the ceremony, where he said that the new submarine was capable of “both preemptive and retaliatory strike.”
The submarine is believed to be a modified Romeo-class submarine that has been equipped with nuclear weapons capabilities. It is the first submarine of its kind in North Korea’s fleet.
The launch of the submarine is a major development in North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. It gives the country a new way to deliver nuclear weapons, and it could pose a serious threat to the United States and its allies in the region.
The United States and South Korea have condemned the launch of the submarine. They have called on North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile programs and to return to dialogue.
North Korea has ignored these calls. It has continued to develop its nuclear and missile programs, and it has threatened to use nuclear weapons against the United States and its allies.
The launch of the submarine is a sign that North Korea is determined to build a nuclear-armed navy. This is a worrying development, and it raises the risk of conflict in the Korean peninsula.
The United States and its allies need to take steps to deter North Korea from further provocations. They need to show North Korea that there will be serious consequences if it uses nuclear weapons. They also need to work to denuclearize the Korean peninsula and to bring peace to the region.
In addition to the military threat posed by the submarine, it also has a symbolic significance. It is a sign of North Korea’s ambition to become a major military power. It is also a challenge to the United States and its allies, who have long sought to prevent North Korea from developing a nuclear-armed navy.