North Korea Showcases Nuclear Capable Submarine, Threats of Nuclear Confrontation Grow

Justin Lotito

Staff Writer 

North Korea’s news agency released photos showcasing nuclear-capable submarines under construction, The Associated Press reports. The pictures released by the state’s media, show President Kim Jong Un visiting a shipyard where crews appear to be working on a massive nuclear-capable submarine.

 Until the release of these images, the existence of nuclear-capable submarines in North Korea had not been confirmed. Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert, estimates the submarine to be between 6,000 to 7,000 tons, The Associated Press says. He believes a submarine of this class could carry up to ten nuclear missiles. “It would be absolutely threatening to [South Korea] and the U.S.,” Moon remarked.

The release of these images could be in response to United States President Donald Trump’s administration. Officials from North Korea claim there has been nuclear escalation since the start of Trump’s second term in the Oval Office,  reports. 

Along with releasing these images, North Korea has taken other measures to flex its nuclear arsenal. In January, the nation tested a strategic cruise missile, Reuters reports. North Korea’s state media reported that the missile traveled 1,500 kilometers and flew between 7,507 and 7,511 seconds before striking designated targets.

These tests were part of efforts to show “the enemies, who are seriously violating our security environment and fostering and escalating the confrontation environment,” The Associated Press says.

Nuclear tensions remain at an all-time high on Korea’s peninsula. In February, South Korean fighter jets mistakenly dropped eight bombs on a South Korean village, reports. The accident, which officials cited as human error, injured 31 people and destroyed nearly 150 houses. While the mistake did not directly impact North Korea, the accident occurred only 15 miles from the demilitarized zone that separates the two countries. 

“There is no need to explain how the situation would have developed if a bomb had been dropped toward the north a little further to cross the border of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” North Korea warned in a statement, Korea JoongAng Daily says. “It is not unreasonable to imagine that an accidental spark might plunge the Korean peninsula and the region and the rest of the world into a new armed conflict.”

North Korea’s comments reflect a growing global concern of a nuclear confrontation. BBC News writes that in 2022, President of the Russian Federation Vladamir Putin Vladimir Putin warned he “was not bluffing” about using nuclear weapons, regarding the Ukraine-Russia War. In November of last year, Putin revised Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which lowered the nation’s threshold to use nuclear weapons, PBS News states

The U.S. currently has a nuclear policy referred to as “Use It or Lose It,” the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs explains. This policy means that if nuclear missiles were launched at the U.S., the president would have full authorization to launch atomic retribution before the missiles even strike. Opponents of this doctrine argue that it does not give the president and officials ample time to make an informed decision. U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Barrack Obama, and Joseph Biden have all stated they wanted to change this policy. Yet, no actions were taken, and “Use It or Lose It” remains in effect. 

“Humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in 2022, UN News reports. “This is madness.” With nuclear tensions at an all-time high, it remains to be seen if world leaders like Trump, Putin, and Kim Jong Un will work together to ease fears of a nuclear war.

Image courtesy of Getty Images.