
Pyongyang has publicly displayed the completed hull of a vessel it describes as a nuclear‑powered attack submarine. The unveiling comes just days after the regime announced the successful test of a new surface‑to‑air missile system.
International observers note that the timing of the reveal coincides with a high‑profile visit by a United States nuclear‑powered attack submarine, which docked in a South Korean port for a brief port call. The juxtaposition of these events underscores the escalating naval competition in the Korean Peninsula.
While North Korean officials claim the submarine is fully operational and capable of deploying nuclear weapons, analysts remain skeptical, citing limited evidence of functional propulsion and weapons integration.
Experts warn that the display may be more about strategic messaging than a genuine leap in underwater warfare capability.