PYONGYANG
In a significant Christmas Day display of military might, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a major shipyard to inspect the construction of an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine. The visit, reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), underscores Pyongyang’s accelerating efforts to modernize its naval forces with a “super-powerful offensive shield.”
The North Korean leader was accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, reinforcing her status as a central figure in state affairs and a potential successor.Photos released by state media show the leader standing before a massive, burgundy-colored hull. Experts note that the ship appears to be in an advanced stage of construction. The Vessel: Described as a “strategic nuclear attack submarine,” the 8,700-ton vessel is roughly equivalent in size to the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class attack submarines. Current Stage: Analysts believe the welded hull indicates that core components, potentially including a small nuclear reactor, have already been installed.
