North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a nuclear-powered submarine manufacturing facility and overseen the test launch of what state media described as “new-type” anti-air missiles, signalling a renewed push to expand Pyongyang’s strategic military capabilities amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The visits took place on Wednesday, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which reported the developments on Thursday (Dec 25). During the inspection of the nuclear submarine production site, Kim sharply criticised South Korea’s recent move to pursue its own nuclear-powered submarines in cooperation with the United States, calling the initiative a “grave threat that must be countered.”
South Korea’s plan gained momentum after US President Donald Trump approved Seoul’s request to develop nuclear-powered submarines during his visit to the country in October. While the decision was hailed by South Korean officials as a step toward strengthening deterrence against North Korea, it has triggered strong opposition from Pyongyang, which views the move as a destabilising escalation.
KCNA said Kim argued that the evolving regional security environment had made it an “urgent task and indispensable option” for North Korea to accelerate the “nuclear weaponisation of the naval force.” The leader reportedly stressed the need to ensure that the country’s navy is capable of operating in what he described as an increasingly hostile security landscape shaped by US-led military cooperation with South Korea.
Despite the strong rhetoric, KCNA did not disclose key technical details about the submarine programme, including the scale of the facility Kim visited or the timeline for deploying nuclear-powered submarines. Analysts note that developing such vessels is a complex and resource-intensive undertaking, requiring advanced reactor technology and shipbuilding expertise.
Only a small group of countries — including the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France and India — operate nuclear-powered submarines. The United States, in particular, treats its submarine reactor technology as among its most sensitive military secrets. This has raised questions about how much technical assistance Washington would be willing or able to provide to Seoul, and where South Korea’s submarines would ultimately be built.
Last month, in its first public response to the US-South Korea agreement, KCNA published a commentary calling the programme a “dangerous attempt at confrontation” that could trigger a “nuclear domino phenomenon” across the region. North Korea has long argued that expanded US military cooperation with its allies justifies its own development of nuclear weapons and advanced delivery systems.
During his visit to the submarine facility, Kim was also briefed on what KCNA described as ongoing research into “new underwater secret weapons.” The agency said he “clarified a strategic plan for reorganising the naval forces and establishing new units,” though it offered no further information on the nature or purpose of these systems.
In a separate report, KCNA said Kim oversaw the test launch of “new-type high-altitude long-range anti-air missiles” over the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan. According to the report, the missiles struck their mock targets at an altitude of around 200 kilometres. If accurate, that altitude would place the interception in outer space, suggesting a capability that overlaps with ballistic missile or space-based interception technology.
“The launched missiles accurately hit the mock targets,” KCNA said, adding that Kim “extended congratulations on the successful test-fire.” The report did not provide images or technical specifications, and independent verification of the claims was not immediately available.
The latest displays of military activity come as diplomatic engagement between North Korea and the United States remains stalled. While Kim has previously met President Trump, negotiations over denuclearisation have made little progress, and Pyongyang has increasingly emphasised military self-reliance.
Regional observers say the combination of submarine development and high-altitude missile tests underscores North Korea’s determination to expand its strategic deterrent, even as it faces international sanctions and economic pressure.
