North Korea Submarine Delays Frustrate Kim Jong Un's Naval Buildup
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A North Korean submarine capable of firing missiles reportedly remains nonoperational almost two years after its launch, as leader Kim Jong Un pushes for naval modernization.
Newsweek has contacted the North Korean Embassy in China for comment via email.
Why It Matters
While continuing to develop its nuclear arsenal, North Korea—officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)—has been enhancing its naval power by building modernized vessels. These include the submarine No. 841 Hero Kim Kun Ok, which is equipped with ballistic and cruise missiles, and two 5,000-ton destroyers.
Kim has said his country's "new era of building a fleet" is making progress toward the goal of establishing a "world level" naval force. However, one of the newly built destroyers was damaged during a botched attempt to launch it into the water on its first try.
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, leader Kim Jong Un, second left, looks at the submarine No. 841 Hero Kim Kun Ok at an unspecified place in North Korea on September 6,...
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, leader Kim Jong Un, second left, looks at the submarine No. 841 Hero Kim Kun Ok at an unspecified place in North Korea on September 6, 2023. More
Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP
What To Know
Citing recently captured satellite imagery, Beyond Parallel—a project by the Center for Strategic and International Studies—said in a July 17 analysis that the No. 841 Hero Kim Kun Ok had yet to become fully operational since its launch in September 2023.
The submarine, which serves as an underwater platform for delivering nuclear warheads, "is not known to have put to sea for any significant length of time," Beyond Parallel said. The delay in putting it into service has likely frustrated a major component of Kim's ambitions for a modern navy.
According to a satellite image dated May 30, the submarine was seen beneath what Beyond Parallel described as a "security canopy" at the Sinpo South Shipyard. Only the top of the submarine's conning tower—a raised structure on the vessel's deck—was partially visible.
The submarine was moved to its current location—a secure boat basin—last December, following the completion of construction and the fitting-out process at the shipyard's dock. The security canopy was installed to conceal the submarine from overhead observation.
NEW @csis Beyond Parallel satellite imagery shows North Korea's first true ballistic missile submarine not yet fully operational, almost two years after its launching.
🔗 https://t.co/51Ti4UbJSg pic.twitter.com/W8eZXhD4ku — CSIS Korea Chair (@CSISKoreaChair) July 22, 2025
North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that workers at the Nampho Shipyard pledged during a Monday meeting to complete the building of the third Choe Hyon-class destroyer by October 10, 2026, with construction having commenced the same day.
The report described this class of destroyer as "a creation symbolic of the strength and spirit" of the country, built in accordance with the "precious instructions" given by Kim—which it said contributed to rapidly transforming North Korea into "a maritime power of the 21st century."
What People Are Saying
Beyond Parallel at the Center for Strategic and International Studies commented on July 17 in its analysis: "Precisely when the No. 841 Hero Kim Kun Ok will become operational is unclear. If its conversion from a Type 003 attack submarine into a ballistic missile submarine proves to be successful, its initial operational debut could come within the next six to 12 months."
Korean Central News Agency reported on Tuesday: "The venue for the meeting was full of the high revolutionary enthusiasm of the workers at the shipyard for upholding with the building of a powerful warship of our own type the unshakable determination and will of the Party Central Committee to firmly defend the inviolable maritime sovereignty and national interests of the DPRK with the inexhaustible might of the naval forces."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen when North Korea will conduct a missile launch test from the No. 841 Hero Kim Kun Ok, and whether additional submarines of the same type will be constructed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Iran-Backed Fighters Parade Hostages as Trump Faces New Crisis
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis have issued stern warnings to vessels defying their Red Sea blockade against Israel, confirming in a video Monday that they were holding several crew members of a cargo ship hostage. The crew of the Eternity C, one of two commercial vessels sank earlier in July, included mainly Filipinos, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), which said 16 were missing after the attack and called for the immediate release of the "kidnapped" seafarers. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Embassy in Yemen and the Philippines' Foreign Ministry for comment. Why It Matters The attack on the Eternity C, in the same week the Houthis attacked the Magic Seas, signaled a show of force by the Iran-backed militant group, which is disrupting a key global trade route despite a heavy campaign of U.S. airstrikes in March ordered by President Donald Trump. Trump said the group would be "annihilated" and promised to restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The U.S. is also imposing sanctions aimed at curbing Iran's proxy influence in the region. A renewed blockade of the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait by the Houthis may once again threaten international shipping in general and U.S. economic interests in particular, forcing Trump's hand in the long-restive region. FILE - Houthi supporters attend a rally against the U.S.-led airstrikes on Yemen and in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Yemen, in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Feb. 09, 2024. Despite a month... FILE - Houthi supporters attend a rally against the U.S.-led airstrikes on Yemen and in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Yemen, in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Feb. 09, 2024. Despite a month of U.S.-led airstrikes, Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have launched attacks seriously damaging a ship in the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait and apparently bringing down an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars. More Osamah Abdulrahman/AP Photo What To Know In the six-minute video released by the Houthis, a distorted voice asked a crew member if he knew the ship was headed to Israel. The crew responded that they were assigned to load fertilizer there for delivery to China. Marc Jayson, the ship's third officer, said the captain had informed the crew they were headed to the Israeli port of Eilat from Somalia. "We asked if there was any bonus for sailing to a high-risk area," he said, adding they received no further details before the attack. Another crew member said the captain had ordered all satellite communications turned off as the ship approached Eilat—a claim the Houthis used to justify their attack against all commercial vessels stopping at Israeli ports. . Filipino Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said an initial investigation found the ship had violated maritime safety protocols by crossing the Red Sea twice—via Egypt, Somalia, and Jeddah—despite a DMW ban on Filipino seafarers boarding vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, according to the official Philippine News Agency on July 10. In November 2023, the Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader while it was sailing from Turkey to India, detaining its multinational crew, including more than a dozen Filipino seafarers, before being released in January 2025. What People Are Saying Houthis' military media statement on Telegram, translated from Arabic: "Maritime navigation is safe for all except for Israeli ships, those headed to occupied Palestinian ports, or vessels operated by companies that have violated the blockade—until the aggression and blockade on Gaza cease." Aleksei Galaktonin, identified in the Houthi video as an electrical engineer on board the Eternity C, said: "Captain didn't respond to the authority of Yemen. Maybe that's why they started attacking." U.S. Embassy in Yemen in statement on X on July 9: "The Houthis continue to show the world why the United States was right to label them as a terrorist organization." What Happens Next Trump has other pressing priorities globally, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and a trade deal with China, the world's second-largest economy. However, he may be compelled to intervene once more in the Middle East if U.S. shipping costs rise as a result of another blockade. It remains unclear if or when the Houthis will release the Filipino crew members
Newsweek
24 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Most Americans Think Epstein Files Contain 'Embarrassing' Info About Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Most Americans think that files about Jeffrey Epstein contain "embarrassing" information about President Donald Trump. According to a poll by the Washington Post, 61 percent of people think that documents about the convicted sex offender, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges, will reveal "embarrassing information" about Trump. Why It Matters Trump has been embroiled in ongoing controversy over his handling of files related to Epstein. Initially, the White House ordered a review of the case and said it would publish names and evidence about Epstein's associates. However, a July memo by the FBI and Justice Department said there was no Epstein "client list" and that no further charges would be brought. The announcement triggered a backlash among those who called for more transparency about the case. Amid this backlash, Trump called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to release "whatever she thinks is credible" regarding Epstein and asked the Justice Department to release grand jury testimony about Epstein. But speculation increased last week when The Wall Street Journal reported Trump had been told by Bondi in May that his name appeared "multiple times" in the so-called Epstein files. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed the allegation as "another fake news story." President Donald Trump gestures as he starts playing golf after the opening ceremony for Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen, Scotland, on July 29, 2025. President Donald Trump gestures as he starts playing golf after the opening ceremony for Trump International Golf Links near Aberdeen, Scotland, on July 29, 2025. AP Photo/Alastair Grant What To Know The Washington Post polled 1,089 people on Monday, with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points. While 61 percent said they believed the files contained awkward information about Trump, more—66 percent—said they thought they would contain embarrassing information about Democrats, and a further 84 percent said they suspected they contained embarrassing information about billionaires. Meanwhile, the poll found that 58 percent of people disapprove of the way Trump is handing issues related to the files while only 16 percent approve. Sixty-four percent of U.S. adults are paying attention to news about the case and 86 percent said they support releasing all the files from the case. The poll also found that people are questioning Epstein's cause of death. While 15 percent believe the medical examiner's ruling that Epstein died by suicide, 42 percent are unsure and 44 percent think he was killed. It comes amid a series of other polls that have been similarly problematic for the president. According to a July The Economist/YouGov poll of 1,680 adults, 79 percent of Americans want all documents pertaining to Epstein to be released. Meanwhile, 67 percent believe the government is covering up evidence related to Epstein, including 59 percent of Trump voters. A July Quinnipiac University poll found that a majority of U.S. voters disapprove of Trump's handling of files related to Epstein. What People Are Saying Scott Lucas, who teaches international politics at University College Dublin, told Newsweek: "The significant number of Americans who want the release of Epstein's files is having a political impact. "In contrast to previous political cases involving Trump this isn't the Democrats who are leading that call for the release of the files, it's not his supposed political enemies it's his supporters so this pressure will continue and be sustained." He added that "Trump is playing for time" and trying to "divert attention elsewhere" with other policies and attempts to change political discourse but the Epstein case is "a lasting affair" that will continue until Trump releases the files or he breaks with his supporters. Asked at a news conference whether he announced a trade framework between the U.S. and the E.U. to stop Epstein headlines, Trump said: "Oh, you gotta be kidding with that. No, had nothing to do with it. Only you would think that. That had nothing to do with it." The Democrats' X account wrote on Saturday, alongside a video detailing Trump's relationship with Epstein: "No matter how much he tries to distract from it, Trump's connection to Jeffrey Epstein spans decades."
Newsweek
24 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Donald Trump South Park Painting Appears in California
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Art of Donald Trump's portrayal in the latest season of South Park has appeared on the streets of California. The images of the mural were captured in Los Angeles a week after Trump was depicted as lying in bed with the devil, sparking a swift response from the White House. Newsweek contacted the White House for comment on the situation via email. The Context South Park returned for its 27th season after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus with an episode that satirized President Trump in a series of provocative scenarios, including lying in bed with Satan and arguing with the Canadian prime minister. The episode, titled "Sermon on the 'Mount,'" also referenced the so-called "Epstein list"—an alleged list of clients involved in Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. The Department of Justice and FBI have said that no "incriminating client list" exists. What To Know The art was captured on Sunday, when passersby noticed that images of Trump and Satan in bed together had appeared on the sidewalk in Los Angeles. South Park's show about Trump is showing up in graffiti. Los Angeles, California. — Molly Ploofkins (@Mollyploofkins) July 27, 2025 The art appears to be from muralist Rod Benson, who posted the mural to his Instagram on Saturday, where it quickly amassed over 10,000 likes. The episode aired one day after the Federal Communications Commission approved a major Paramount Global-Skydance Media merger and just weeks after Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit from President Trump related to a CBS interview with Kamala Harris. So far, President Trump has not personally commented on the episode, but the White House issued a robust response on his behalf. The new episode of 'South Park' shows Donald Trump in bed with Satan. The new episode of 'South Park' shows Donald Trump in bed with Satan. Comedy Central Shortly after the episode aired, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told the Rolling Stone on July 24: "The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end—for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offensive' content, but suddenly they are praising the show. "Just like the creators of South Park, the Left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows. This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention. President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history—and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." What People Are Saying In response to the statement, South Park co-creator Trey Parker, during a panel at Comic-Con International in San Diego, offered a mock-serious reaction: "We're terribly sorry," he said when asked about the Trump administration's reaction to the episode . Parker explained that their decision not to blur certain content in the episode was intentional and in keeping with the show's satirical style. David S. Korzenik, a veteran media lawyer, told Newsweek: "There's no real possibility of any credible legal peril ... Any lawsuit against South Park for this would be ridiculous." Marjorie Heins, a First Amendment lawyer and author, told Newsweek: "The South Park show is obviously satire, not an assertion of fact, so under the law as it now stands, the satire is fully protected by the First Amendment." What Happens Next Paramount and the South Park creators are expected to continue producing new episodes as part of their long-term deal, despite the White House criticism.
