According to Yonhap, the submarine may join the DPRK’s strategic forces, whose arsenal now includes bombers and missiles with nuclear warheads.
The Republic of Korea’s intelligence continues to monitor the possible imminent arrival of a new missile submarine in the DPRK’s navy. This was reported by Yonhap agency on Monday, citing the South Korean intelligence circles.
“According to our data, the submarine is ready to enter service with the DPRK Navy. We are closely watching its introduction into service”, – the agency quoted sources as saying.
According to South Korean intelligence, the new non-nuclear missile submarine was built at military shipyards in Shinpho on the country’s east coast. The submarine may have a displacement of 3,000 tonnes and is armed with three new medium-range Pukguksong-3 ballistic missiles. In October 2019, the first test launch of this missile took place. It flew 450 kilometres at a maximum altitude of about 910 kilometres.
The new missile submarine may become part of DPRK’s strategic forces, the arsenal of which now includes bombers and missiles with nuclear warheads, Yonhap notes.
The agency links the arrival of the new missile submarine to the DPRK Navy with Pyongyang’s statement in late 2019 that “the North can soon demonstrate new strategic weapons”.
The DPRK Navy currently has 70 obsolete submarines. According to South Korea’s intelligence assessment, they cannot operate outside DPRK’s territorial waters.