North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, warning that his country's maritime defense capability will be "fully" projected "in any necessary waters...
www.koreatimes.co.kr
ROK media and AP claim that during Fat Kim visit to the shipyard for inspecting the Frigates, he also visiting North Korea first nuclear submarine. ROK sources calculate the SSN/SSGN are at 7000 ton and have guided missile capabilities with unclear warhead. Some suggestions it's the similar submarine launch cruise missiles that they have test last year.
ROK claim that Russia has given DPRK the design of nuclear reactor for submarine as part of Putin promises to Kim for their support on Ukraine war. I'm bit sceptical on this, as of it is design that they give, unlikely North Korea already have ready nuclear reactor to that submarine operational in just couple of years. I suspect DPRK already have one in program, and Russia just give finishing touch on the existing program.
Either way it will be the largest submarine that DPRK have, and will raise question whether both ROK and Japan will venture on their own SSN/SSGN program. ROK has been speculate by online enthusiasts to have their own SSN design base on enlargements of their KSS-3. Perhaps Japan can also enlarged their Taigei for SSN. Both of them have capabilities to build their own submarine nuclear reactor.
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