North Korea on March 8 released images of leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the construction of what it calls a “nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine,” marking its first public acknowledgment of the project.

North Korea has conducted a slew of underwater-launched ballistic missile tests since 2016, but all launches were made from the same 2,000-tonne-class submarine which has a single launch tube. Many experts call it a test platform, rather than an operational submarine in active service.

In 2023, North Korea said it had launched what it called its first “tactical nuclear attack submarine,” but foreign experts doubted the North’s announcement and speculated it was likely a diesel-powered submarine disclosed in 2019. Moon said there has been no confirmation that it has been deployed.

North Korea has released the first images of its under-construction nuclear-powered submarine, which is likely being built with assistance from Russia. The nuclear-powered submarine can pose a major threat to Pyongyang’s immediate neighbor,