On December 24, 2025, North Korea’s state media released the first complete images of a “strategic nuclear guided missile submarine” under construction, with an estimated displacement of 8,700 tons.
The photographs show North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during an inspection at the shipyard, where, according to Pyongyang, he gave so-called “field instructions” during the visit.
+ Video: Tu-95MS bomber flight coincides with Poland’s interception of a Russian aircraft
The pictures were published by Korean Central News Agency and constitutes the most detailed visual confirmation yet of the work the regime has claimed for years to be doing to develop a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
According to analysts, the vessel appears significantly larger than the current diesel-electric submarines operated by North Korea and appears designed to carry multiple vertical launchers for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), possibly a maritime variant of the Pukguksong family.
The stated displacement of 8,700 tons would bring the project close to the size of early Cold War SSBNs and exceed any platform currently in service in the North Korean Navy. This points to a significant lift in strategic ambition, even if the final performance were to fall short of the standards of the leading nuclear navies.
The published photos indicate an extended section of the pressure hull, consistent with a missile compartment, as well as external features that point to a section dedicated to a nuclear reactor. However, there is no independent confirmation that a functioning maritime reactor has already been installed.
Experts believe that deepening military and technological cooperation between North Korea and Russia could be a critical factor in progress in areas such as reactor design, specialized metallurgy and noise reduction techniques — fields where Pyongyang has historically had technical limitations.
If completed and put into operational use, the submarine would represent North Korea’s first credible attempt to establish a sea-based nuclear deterrent, increasing the survivability of the country’s strategic forces and complicating allied tracking and missile defense efforts in Northeast Asia.
Nevertheless, significant challenges remain, including reactor safety, crew training, acoustic noise mitigation and reliable integration of SLBMindicating that the platform will likely require several years to achieve real operational capability, even if construction proceeds as planned.
Source and images: Korean Central News Agency. This content is created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors.
