In January 2021, North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un stood before thousands of members of the Worker’s Party of Korea in Pyongyang and announced that North Korean industry was in the late stages of developing a nuclear-powered submarine – the first such sub for the North Korean navy.
At the time, it may have been wise to be sceptical: nuclear submarines are among the costliest and most complex weapon systems in the world. North Korean industry isn’t exactly known for its wealth and sophistication.
Nearly four years later, there’s much less reason to doubt Kim’s claim. Because now North Korea has Russia’s help. And for all its woes, Russian industry still builds a lot of world-class nuke boats.
In late November, US Navy admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, told an audience in Canada that Moscow “will likely” transfer submarine technology to Pyongyang. The transfer is part of North Korea’s reward for its strong support of Russia’s 33-month wider war in Ukraine.
In January 2021, North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un stood before thousands of members of the Worker’s Party of Korea in Pyongyang and announced that North Korean industry was in the late stages of developing a nuclear-powered submarine – the first such sub for the North Korean navy.
At the time, it may have been wise to be sceptical: nuclear submarines are among the costliest and most complex weapon systems in the world. North Korean industry isn’t exactly known for its wealth and sophistication.
Nearly four years later, there’s much less reason to doubt Kim’s claim. Because now North Korea has Russia’s help. And for all its woes, Russian industry still builds a lot of world-class nuke boats.
In late November, US Navy admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, told an audience in Canada that Moscow “will likely” transfer submarine technology to Pyongyang. The transfer is part of North Korea’s reward for its strong support of Russia’s 33-month wider war in Ukraine.