North Korea Reportedly Builds Two Submarines Able to Shoot Ballistic Missiles

The first reports about North Korea's preparations for the construction of advanced ballistic missile submarines appeared in 2016.

North Korea is building two new submarines able to fire ballistic missiles, the Yonhap news outlet reported, citing the South Korean National Intelligence Service.

The report comes in the wake of the ninth round of high-level talks between South Korea and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that will take place this week over North Korea’s nuclear programme and other related topics.

In October, North Korea demonstrated its latest military developments, a submarine-launched ballistic missile and a new intercontinental ballistic missile, at a massive parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Worker’s Party.

Despite North Korea’s progress, Nam Sae-kyu, the head of the South Korean Agency for Defense Development, said that South Korea’s technology is still much more advanced and the country’s military is able to intercept Pyongayng’s newly-developed missiles.

North Korea's nuclear programme has been subject to the concerns of the international community for decades now.

The United States and North Korea had two denuclearisation summits in 2018 and 2019, but they eventually faced a deadlock as Washington demanded that Pyongyang completely dismantle all of its nuclear facilities in order to be given sanctions relief, while North Korea insisted on that part of the restrictions be lifted before denuclearisation begins.