North Korea on Thursday displayed apparent progress in the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, with state media photos showing a largely completed hull, as leader Kim Jong Un condemned rival South Korea's push to acquire the technology. It was the first time North Korean state media had released images of the submarine since March, when they mostly showed the lower sections of the vessel. It was not immediately clear how close North Korea is to completing the vessel. But there have been questions about whether North Korea, a heavily sanctioned and impoverished country, could get resources and technology to build nuclear-powered submarines. While some analysts suspect North Korea may have sought a reactor from Russia, possibly from a retired Russian submarine, Moon said it's more likely that North Korea designed its own reactor, while possibly receiving some technological assistance from Russia.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 26, 2025 04:47 UTC