North Korea releases images of development of nuclear-powered submarine

North Korea showed disconnected its evident advancement successful nan improvement of a nuclear-powered submarine. State media released photos of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and his daughter, a imaginable heir, arsenic they inspected what appears to beryllium a mostly completed hull.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea's charismatic authorities media, said Kim and his girl visited nan shipyard to analyse nan building of what it describes arsenic an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine, The Associated Press reported. Pyongyang has signaled that it plans to limb nan submarine pinch atomic weapons, nan AP noted. Kim has said nan improvement of nan submarine is simply a important measurement toward nan modernization and atomic armament of his country's navy.

The Christmas Day merchandise of nan photos marks nan first clip North Korean authorities media has shown an update connected nan nuclear-powered submarine since March. Earlier images mostly showed nan little sections of nan vessel, nan AP noted. The KCNA did not opportunity erstwhile nan photos released connected Thursday were taken.

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In this undated photograph provided Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, by nan North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un inspects a nuclear-powered submarine nether building astatine an undisclosed location successful North Korea. Independent journalists were not fixed entree to screen nan arena depicted successful this image distributed by nan North Korean government. The contented of this image is arsenic provided and cannot beryllium independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Moon Keun-sik, a submarine master astatine Seoul’s Hanyang University, told nan AP that nan photos of a mostly completed hull bespeak that galore of nan halfway components are already successful place, arsenic submarines are typically built from nan wrong out. However, it was not instantly clear precisely really overmuch advancement Pyongyang had made.

"Showing nan full alloy now seems to bespeak that astir of nan instrumentality has already been installed and it is conscionable astir fresh to beryllium launched into nan water," Moon, who besides served arsenic a submarine serviceman successful nan South Korean navy, told nan AP. Moon added that North Korea's submarine could beryllium fresh for testing astatine oversea wrong months.

In this undated photograph provided Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, by nan North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un, 3rd left, visits a shipyard arsenic he inspects a nuclear-powered submarine nether building astatine an undisclosed location successful North Korea. Independent journalists were not fixed entree to screen nan arena depicted successful this image distributed by nan North Korean government. The contented of this image is arsenic provided and cannot beryllium independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

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While astatine nan shipyard, Kim condemned South Korea's efforts to create its ain nuclear-powered submarine arsenic an "offensive act," contempt nan truth that President Donald Trump has backed Seoul's push toward nan technology. Kim said South Korea's efforts break North Korea's information and maritime sovereignty, according to nan AP.

In October, during his circuit of Asia aimed astatine securing investments, Trump said that nan U.S. would stock exertion pinch South Korea that would let it to build a nuclear-powered submarine. The president posted connected Truth Social that nan alloy would beryllium built successful Philadelphia.

In this undated photograph provided Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, by nan North Korean government, its leader Kim Jong Un inspects a nuclear-powered submarine nether building astatine an undisclosed location successful North Korea. Independent journalists were not fixed entree to screen nan arena depicted successful this image distributed by nan North Korean government. The contented of this image is arsenic provided and cannot beryllium independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

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"South Korea will beryllium building its nuclear-powered submarine successful nan Philadelphia shipyards, correct present successful nan bully ol’ U.S.A. Shipbuilding successful our state will soon beryllium making a BIG COMEBACK," the president wrote.

The White House underscored nan constituent erstwhile it released a truth sheet successful November which straight referenced Washington and Seoul's efforts to "further our maritime and atomic partnership."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.