North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has revealed an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered nuclear submarine designed as a strategic missile platform, releasing its first full images as regional tensions rise. State media said Kim warned that hostile actions against North Korea would face “merciless retaliatory strikes,” calling the nuclear submarine a key step in strengthening the country’s naval and nuclear defense.
Kim Jong Un showcases nuclear submarine and sends warning
KCNA said Kim Jong Un personally inspected the nuclear-powered submarine and received a briefing on its construction and role. Officials described the 8,700-ton vessel as a strategic guided missile submarine, suggesting it can carry missiles that may be armed with nuclear warheads.
During the visit, Kim praised the project as an important advance for national security and said it would strengthen North Korea’s war deterrence capabilities. He warned that any military action against the country would trigger “merciless retaliatory strikes,” according to state media.
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The unveiling follows a March announcement that North Korea was building its first nuclear-powered submarine. At that time, the vessel was still under construction, and the latest images mark its first full public appearance.
Tensions rise over South Korea and U.S. cooperation
A major part of Kim Jong Un’s message focused on South Korea’s recent agreement with the United States regarding nuclear-powered submarine development. South Korean officials have said they intend to build a nuclear-powered submarine, and that Washington has agreed to help by providing nuclear fuel under specific conditions.
Kim described this cooperation as a serious threat to regional stability. He reportedly said that South Korea’s nuclear submarine plan, agreed upon with Washington at Seoul’s request, would “further cause instability in the Korean Peninsula region.” KCNA framed the U.S.-South Korea partnership as an aggressive act that infringes on North Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty.
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According to KCNA, Kim views the collaboration as something that must be countered. He said the United States and South Korea were engaging in actions that directly threaten North Korea’s safety at sea. The report emphasized that Pyongyang considers these moves part of a broader pattern of pressure and military alignment against the DPRK.
In response to the North Korean claims, U.S. officials have offered limited public comment. When North Korea first announced the nuclear submarine project earlier this year, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said Washington was aware of the claims but did not have additional information to provide at that time. Hughes also restated the U.S. position that it remains committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
KCNA used strong language to describe the situation, saying Kim believes the U.S.-ROK cooperation poses a direct security threat. The report stated that North Korea sees these developments as justification for continuing and strengthening its own nuclear and naval programs.
Naval modernization, nuclear stance, and underwater weapons
Beyond unveiling the submarine, Kim Jong Un used the inspection to highlight broader naval modernization plans. KCNA reported that he pointed to the ongoing construction of new naval destroyers as part of the “rapid modernization and nuclearization” of the North Korean navy, saying these efforts would sharply increase the combat strength of fleet forces. Kim also repeated that the country’s nuclear weapons program is “irreversible,” stating that adversaries would have no choice but to fear a nuclear force that he said would remain unchanged.
During the visit, Kim reportedly reviewed the development of what KCNA called “newly developed underwater secret weapons” and discussed plans for reorganizing naval forces and forming new units. Although officials released no details, analysts believe the remarks refer to the Haeil nuclear-armed unmanned underwater vehicle. North Korea last publicly acknowledged testing the system in January 2024 and reportedly displayed it again at an October weapons exhibition, suggesting continued development.
KCNA provided no information on when the nuclear-powered submarine would enter service or what weapons it would carry. Instead, the report focused on Kim’s inspection, his warnings to enemies, and his claim that strengthening naval and nuclear power is a necessary response to external threats, adding to ongoing regional tensions involving South Korea and the United States.