[DPRK] North Korea unveils new nuclear attack submarine

[Fig. 1] N. Korea unveils new nuclear attack submarine

On September 6, North Korea claimed to have launched a new “tactical nuclear attack submarine” at its Sinpo shipyard in South Hamgyong Province. Kim Jong-un was in attendance.

North Korea named the new submarine the <Kim Gun Ok Hero>.
(North Korea falsely claims that an officer named “Kim Gun Ok” destroyed the USS Baltimore during the Korean War. Kim Gun-ok rose to the rank of major general.)

North Korean sources say it can carry 10 short- to intermediate-range SLBMs.
It is said to be capable of carrying KN-23-derived short-range SLBMs such as the Polaris IV (with a warhead range of 3,000 kilometers).
Separately, it is said to be capable of carrying long-range nuclear torpedoes.

A harsh assessment of this submarine

South Korean military expert Dr. Shin Shin-gyun devalues the submarine.

[Fig. 2] North Korea’s Romeo-class submarines in the East Sea Fleet

1. The overall length is too long and thin compared to the fuselage diameter.
   And the SLBM vertical launcher section is typical of an aging hull.
   In other words, the powerplant is the same as the Romeo class (made by the Soviet Union), and the hull has been lengthened by cutting functions.
2. North Korea does not have world-class technology to make high-tensile steel plates.
   It does not have the ability to dive deep.
3. It is a submarine made by cutting and pasting different materials into 4 sections.
   They made a horizontal rudder, which the Romeo didn’t have.
   Also they cut off the front part to make it rounder.

   So, while the Romeo dives 250 meters, this submarine probably won’t even go 150 meters.
   

This leaves us with the following questions

The batteries must have been replaced. Does North Korea have the battery technology? and if so, who gave them the new batteries?
And who provided the new sonar?
If high-tensile steel plates exist, who provided them to North Korea?

This is a “crappy submarine”. But it’s still dangerous.

This is not a modern SLBM submarine. It is a sloppy submarine built like a rushed whiskey.
It will not be able to sail long distances because its propulsion system is the same as the Romeo class.
Nevertheless, what we should be aware of is that it can hit the entire South Korea, Okinawa, Japan, Guam, USA, etc. at any time.
Therefore, “Hunter Killer” operations should be conducted in front of North Korean navy bases so that they can be destroyed if they come out at any time.