New North Korea submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles, South says
- A South Korean official said the North is building two new submarines, including a second one that can carry a submarine-launched ballistic missile
- Kim Jong-un’s vow to unveil new strategic weapons this year led to speculation the North could soon deploy an operational ballistic missile submarine
North Korea has a large submarine fleet but only one known experimental submarine capable of carrying a ballistic missile.
“One of the submarines North Korea is building can carry a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM),” said Ha Tae-keung, an opposition party lawmaker on parliament’s intelligence committee.
“One is a modified Romeo Class and the other is a new medium-large size one.”
US calls North Korea’s new ICBM missiles ‘disappointing’
North Korea has been subject to UN Security Council sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump have met three times since 2018, but failed to make progress on US calls for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and North Korea’s demands for an end to sanctions.
In July 2019 state media showed Kim inspecting a large, newly built submarine.
While North Korea did not describe the submarine’s weapons systems, analysts said the apparent size of the vessel indicated it was designed to carry missiles.
Later that year North Korea said it had successfully test-fired a new SLBM from the sea, and last month it showcased a new SLBM design during a military parade in Pyongyang.
Kim’s vow to unveil new strategic weapons this year also led to speculation that North Korea could soon deploy an operational ballistic missile submarine.
North Korea unveiled a total of 76 intercontinental ballistic missiles in nine different types at a military parade on October 10, that showcased the country’s long-range weapons for the first time in two years, Yonhap news agency reported, citing Ha.
The weapons showcased this year were the largest of all past military parades in scale, he said.
The lawmaker also said there was circumstantial evidence indicating that Kim had ordered an investigation into the North Korean troops who shot dead a South Korean fisheries official who went missing in late September, Yonhap reported.
North Korea last week said the shooting of the South Korean man in its waters last month was a self-defensive measure amid concerns about the coronavirus.
