ShareSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — 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. Follow onIt was not immediately clear how close North Korea is to completing the vessel. A nuclear-powered submarine is Kim’s next major military goalA nuclear-powered submarine was one item on a long wish list of sophisticated weaponry that Kim announced during a major political conference in 2021 to cope with what he called growing U.S.-led military threats. 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 25, 2025 18:03 UTC