Submarine armada of the DPRK: why Pyongyang announced the creation of a new submarine

A new submarine appeared on the DPRK armament, which was presented to the leader of the republic Kim Jong Ynu the day before. This was reported by the North Korean news agency TsTAK.

“The new submarine, built with careful management and special attention of a respected senior executive, is designed to perform tasks in the operational zone of the East Sea and is located in front of the operational deployment,” the agency said.

As Kim Jong-un said, for North Korea, washed from the east and west by the seas, the operational capability of the submarine fleet is an important element of the state’s defense capability. At the same time, neither the name of the new ship, nor its tactical and technical characteristics are indicated in the agency's statement.

Serious threat to the enemy

North Korea has a large submarine fleet, which, according to experts, is represented by more than 70 submarines. Thus, in the number of submarines, the DPRK is not inferior to the US or Chinese Navy, although it is lagging behind in quality indicators. Most of the submarines in service with Pyongyang are diesel, not capable of high speed. Nevertheless, due to their multiplicity, they pose a serious threat to any adversary, experts say.

• Television broadcast launch of a ballistic missile of the DPRK.
• Reuters
• © Kim Hong-Ji

Pyongyang has long been trying to update its submarine fleet at the expense of its own developments. So, in 2016, Kim Jong Un ordered to start work on creating his own underwater nuclear-powered submarine - as South Korean media reported earlier, it was about creating two ships of this class. Whether the work on the construction of nuclear submarines is advancing today, while nothing is known. However, in 2019, Taiwan News reported that Pyongyang offered Taipei to purchase ultra-small Yono-type submarines with a displacement of about 90 tons, as well as small diesel-electric submarines of the Sang-O type, whose construction began in the mid-1990s. Such submarines are actively used by the DPRK for reconnaissance missions.

In addition, the Taiwanese media reported on the proposal of the DPRK authorities to supply the peninsula's army with anaerobic power plants for submarines, allowing the submarine not to emerge for up to one month. Military experts from Taiwan even met with North Korean officials to make sure that the installation possesses the stated qualities. However, in the end, Taipei still abandoned the idea of ​​concluding a contract with North Korea for fear of falling under international sanctions.

• The teachings of the North Korean army.
• © KCNA

According to experts, the creation of an anaerobic power plant is an extremely difficult task, so far not all countries that have much greater capabilities than North Korea have been able to cope with it.

The fact that North Korea has been developing large non-nuclear submarines capable of carrying ballistic missiles on board has long been known. So, in 2014, Western specialized media outlets talked about launching the first new-type diesel submarine into the DPRK, which they called the Sinpo. Pyongyang did not disclose either the name or the technical characteristics, however, according to Western experts, it can carry one or two ballistic missiles, and its displacement can reach 1.5-2 thousand tons. Construction, as reported, was launched in 2010 in the city of Xingpo.

It is worth noting that in 2016, Pyongyang had already conducted the launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine. Then the rocket for the first time was able to overcome a distance of 500 km. Presumably, a new generation of missiles is being developed in the DPRK, with a range of about 2,000 km.

In April of this year, the South Korean newspaper Choson Ilbo reported that Pyongyang was allegedly developing another submarine, whose approximate displacement would be 3,000 tons already - a ship of this class could carry several ballistic missiles on board.

According to experts, the new North Korean submarine, which was reported by the TsTAK agency, may be a new modification of the diesel Sinpo. This opinion was expressed in the comments of RT by military expert Mikhail Timoshenko.

“It’s hard to say whether the DPRK authorities can put the construction of new submarines on stream, or it will be piece goods, whether they have enough resources. Technologically, however, this is quite possible. If Pyongyang has already created its own nuclear weapons, then it is obvious that North Korea has a technical school. It should be noted that the North Korean submarine fleet is a formidable force, and now the republic’s navy can even sink American ships, ”the expert explained.

Researcher of the Center for Korean Studies of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Konstantin Asmolov also has no doubt that the DPRK is capable of building submarines.

“ The idea of ​​North Korea as a country in which total technological disruption reigns is fundamentally wrong. As soon as the DPRK had the opportunity to restore the industry, she hurried to do it, especially in key industries, ”said the expert in an interview with RT.

"States will have to find other ways"

Note that information about the new weapons development of the DPRK appeared against the backdrop of stalled negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. Even the personal visit of the head of the White House, Donald Trump, to the demilitarized zone between the Koreas, where he met with Kim Jong-un, could not yet lend momentum to the Korean-American dialogue.

• Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un's meeting in the demilitarized zone.
• Reuters
• © Kevin Lamarque

Washington is demanding that the DPRK authorities simultaneously destroy their nuclear arsenal. Only after that the American side is ready to think about lifting the economic sanctions on North Korea. However, Pyongyang does not agree to such conditions, naturally requiring security guarantees in the event of disarmament. The parties fail to find a compromise in this situation, despite the personal efforts of state leaders.

Washington has so far not responded to the message about the appearance of a new submarine near North Korea. As stated by the head of the State Department, Mike Pompeo, the United States hopes to resume negotiations with the DPRK in the near future.

“We hope that discussions at the working level will begin in a couple of weeks,” the US Secretary of State said in an interview with IHeartMedia.

According to experts, the news about the inspection of Kim Jong-un of the new submarine did not appear by chance - in this way Pyongyang showed the American side its readiness to respond to any threats in case of a failure of negotiations.

“Kim Jong-un is a strong-willed leader, and he has repeatedly shown his character to Trump. With the announcement of the appearance of a new submarine, Pyongyang has strengthened its position in the negotiation process, ”Mikhail Tymoshenko believes.

Konstantin Asmolov adheres to a similar point of view. According to the expert, in this way Pyongyang said that it has a means that shortens the rocket’s flying time to US territory in the event of a direct military conflict.

“Pyongyang made it clear that it has submarines capable of carrying ballistic missiles on board. This is a very important point, such news is like cold water poured on the heads of militant "hawks" in American military-political circles. Supporters of pressure on North Korea in the United States have always believed that the country is completely helpless in technical terms. And now it turns out that the DPRK has not only missiles, but also a strong submarine fleet. In such conditions, the policy of direct pressure on the DPRK no longer looks comfortable, the States will have to look for other ways to achieve their goals, ”concluded Asmolov.