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North Korean Submarine ( Image credits-  VOA) North has around 70 submarines, but most of them outdated. But now they are building new type to diesel ballistic missile submarine called the Gorae class which they hope will be able to complete the nuclear tread. The Diplomat takes an in depth look at the North Korean plans for the future with their new submarine and base. ( The entire article can be read here .......)

Image credits- Internet Pic Source- The National Interest Author- Koh Swee Lean Collin The recent reported test of North Korea’s KN-11, dubbed Pukgeukseong-1 (Polaris-1) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) has created quite a buzz. In fact, not long before the test took place, the South Korean defense ministry remarked that there were no signs that Pyongyang would launch missiles in the near future despite the visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to the country’s satellite command and control center, operated by the National Aerospace Development Administration. Washington took the recent development seriously, accusing Pyongyang of contravening existing United Nations Security Council resolutions by staging the test. South Korean government authorities sought to downplay the test, pointing out that it was no more than an ejector test and the missile was assumed to have flown only 100 meters upon lift-off. This appears to correspond with the subsequent ass...

Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- J.A De Roo Source- The Diplomat Author- Ankit Panda The Washington Free Beacon reports that North Korea is making progress toward operationalizing submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). The report, by the Beacon‘s Bill Gertz, cites comments made by the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Admiral Cecil D. Haney, in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee disclosed on Thursday. As The Diplomat covered last fall, North Korea’s SLBM development has been under the watchful eye of observers for some time now. A satellite imagery study by 38 North strongly hinted at an ongoing SLBM development process at North Korea’s Sinpo South Shipyard. Gertz’s report confirms that U.S. officials now believe that a North Korean SLBM is a safe assumption. A robust SLBM capability would be a major step for North Korea, particularly if it manages to successfully miniaturize a nuclear device for delivery from a submarine (a consider...

Source- The Internet Source- The Business Insider Author- Jeremy Bender North Korea is attempting to develop submarines capable of launching nuclear armed ballistic missiles, Debalina Ghoshal  writes  for USNI News. North Korea is developing a new class of submarines based on the designs of the Soviet-era Golf-II class submarine. Although these vessels have been surpassed by later US and European models and are basically obsolete by modern standards, North Korea is gaining technological insight from the submarines that could lead to a functioning ballistic missile vessel. As Ghoshal writes: [T]hese submarines  would be able to fire ballistic missiles . In fact, reports confirm that Pyongyang already is developing a vertical-launch system for submarine  launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) . Raising further concerns about that is the fact that North Korean ballistic missiles could be armed with nuclear warheads. This interest in a sea-based mi...

Image source- Internet Source- The Telegraph Author- Julian Ryall North Korea has launched a domestically built submarine that is designed to fire ballistic missiles, raising new concerns about the growing threat posed by Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programmes. Military sources in South Korea say the vessel is based on a Golf II-class Soviet submarine that the North acquired in 1993, ostensibly for scrapping. The 3,500-ton Golf II was equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles that could carry a 2,600 lb warhead more than 880 miles. And although the Soviet-era vessel is obsolete and the Russian Navy insisted it could never return to service, North Korea is believed to have spent the last 20 years examining and replicating its missile launch system, which included the launch tubes and stabilisation equipment, according to analysts at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University. The institute recently identified a new test stand at ...

Type-33 (Romeo Class) Submarine( Image credits- Wikimedia commons/ Author) North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un  made headlines last month  when he visited the Korean People’s Army Naval Unit 167, part of the Korean People’s Navy (KPN) East Sea Fleet unit based in the South Hamgyong province. Photographs released by the Korean Central News Agency showed Kim on a rusty green-painted submarine No. 748, toying with the periscope in its control room. Kim also reportedly guided an actual drill onboard. Many foreign analysts used Kim’s visit to comment on the decrepit state of the submarine he was visiting. For example, South Korea’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Kim Min-Seok, remarked that: “It appears that Pyongyang aims to show off its submarine might, but the submarines that our Navy holds are far superior, as ours do not make much noise and it can stay underwater far longer.” The Technological Gap This view is not without merit. From a strictly technical standpoint, submar...