Recent satellite images provide a glimpse into North Korea’s ambitions for the development of a ballistic missile submarine.
38 North, a North Korea affairs website run by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies based in Washington, DC, noted on Thursday, “Commercial satellite imagery of the Sinpo South Shipyard from November 5 indicates that North Korea is on an aggressive schedule to build and deploy its first operational ballistic missile submarine.”
Images indicate an active shipbuilding operation and 38 North says that “the presence of what appear to be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull in the yards suggests construction of a new submarine, possibly the SINPO-C ballistic missile submarine.”
The submarine, SINPO-C, seems to be an advanced version of North Korea’s GORAE-class submarine, which has not been in operational use, according to The Diplomat.
A Pentagon report in 2015 addressed the regime’s efforts on developing ballistic missile submarines.
“North Korea’s pursuit of a submarine-launched ballistic missile capability also highlights the regime’s commitment to diversifying its missile force, strengthening the missile force’s survivability, and finding new ways to coerce its neighbors,” it stated.
Despite the continued activity, 38 North does note that images don’t show any signs of a near-term “at-sea or submerged” test involving submarine launch ballistic missiles.
The piece by 38 North comes days after President Trump’s forceful statements about the North Korean regime during his address to South Korea’s National Assembly.
Trump called North Korea, “a hell that no person deserves,” and warned, “The weapons you are acquiring are not making you safer. They are putting your regime in grave danger. Every step you take down this dark path increases the peril you face.”
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