Photo Shows North Korea's New Nuclear-Powered Sub as...

By Peter Aitken

Politics Weekend Editor

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North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un observed the test-firing of a long-range surface-to-air missile shortly before visiting the construction of a nearly 9,000-ton nuclear-powered submarine on Wednesday.

Kim remarked during his visit that South Korea planned to also build a nuclear-powered submarine, which would "worsen" regional stability, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department by submission form on Wednesday evening for comment.

Why It Matters

North Korea continues to develop weapons despite United Nations sanctions on its nuclear and ballistic missile programs—both of which continue to prove a destabilizing force for the region.

The Hermit Kingdom in October unveiled a missile allegedly capable of striking far-range targets. North Korean officials claim that the Hwasong-20 could hit the continental United States, but have yet to demonstrate that capability.

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What To Know

The Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's state-run news agency, published stunning photos of Kim touring the construction site of the 8,700-ton sub, flanked by workers and officials as they examined the vessel.

The submarine is part of the country's effort to modernize its Navy, which is just one of five key policies the ruling party is pushing to improve its defense capabilities, according to KCNA.

Kim also oversaw the test of new missiles, which aims to improve the country's capability to produce new types of missiles. The one demonstrated has a reported range of up to 124 miles.

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Kim, during his stop at the submarine's construction site, said that such developments would prove necessary in a world that is "by no means peaceful."

He also claimed he had no choice but to develop one in the face of South Korea's plans to build a similar vessel - a "threat to its security that must be countered."

"DPRK regards it as an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty," Kim told reporters.

What People Are Saying

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this month: "We have one of the strongest borders anywhere in the world. There’s one country that has probably has a stronger border. North Korea has a stronger border. North Korea has seven walls of wire. And each of them has a million volts of electricity going through it. So if you get over one, you’re dead the next one. If you get over one, you’re in very bad shape. If you get over two, you’ve set a record. I think we give North Korea the safest border. But ours is pretty safe."

Former U.S. intelligence official Markus Garlauskas recently told Newsweek that there is: “a real and growing risk of Kim Jong Un initiating a renewed conflict in Korea. I am concerned that just because there has not been major aggression by the North recently, and because Kim appears to have abandoned Korean unification as a goal, too many Americans have become complacent on this risk."

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