Kim Jong Un Inspects New Nuclear Submarine and Oversees Missile Test

The unveiling of a near-complete 8,700-ton submarine hull has raised alarms in Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington. Unlike previous North Korean submarines, which were mostly noisy, diesel-electric conversions, a true nuclear-powered vessel could stay submerged for months, making it significantly harder to track. This shift in capability threatens to complicate the missile defense strategies of North Korea’s neighbors and the United States.