SEOUL (Dispatches) - North
Korea has launched its first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine” and assigned it to the fleet that patrols the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan, state media said on Friday.
“Submarine No. 841” would perform its combat mission as “one of core underwater offensive means of the naval force” of North Korea, the country’s leader Kim Jong Un said, attending the launching ceremony, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
“The submarine-launching ceremony heralded the beginning of a new chapter for bolstering up the naval force of the DPRK,” the KCNA said, using the initials of the North’s official name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Kim said arming the navy with nuclear weapons was an urgent task and promised to transfer more underwater and surface vessels equipped with tactical nuclear weapons to the naval forces.
“Achieving a rapid development of our naval forces...is a priority that cannot be delayed given...the enemies’ recent aggressive moves and military acts,” the North Korean leader said.
On Sunday, North Korea said it had conducted a “simulated tactical nuclear attack” with mock atomic warheads to warn the enemies that the country would be prepared in case of a nuclear war.
The KCNA called the operation a “counteraction drill” in response to joint military activities by the U.S. and South Korea.
Kim had said earlier that the U.S. was increasing the chances of a “nuclear war” on the Korean Peninsula as a result of its reckless confrontational moves.
He was apparently referring to Washington’s deployment of some of its most advanced weaponry, including nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines, to the peninsula either as part of agreements with its regional allies, Japan and South Korea, or under the guise of conducting joint military drills.
Submarine No. 841 - named Hero Kim Kun Ok after a North Korean historical figure - will be one of the main “underwater offensive means of the naval force” of North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un said at the launch ceremony.
North Korea has about 20 Romeo-class submarines, which are powered by diesel-electric engines and are obsolete by modern standards, with most other countries operating them only as training vessels.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Jakarta, and asked Beijing to do more as a UN Security Council member to address North Korea’s military activities.