North Korea Reveals Their First Nuclear-Powered Submarine

North Korea has released pictures of their first nuclear-powered submarine– a technology that only a handful of countries have been able to develop.

The images showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un taking a close look at the submarine, suggesting that it is not operational just yet, but it comes amid development threats from their US-backed neighbor, South Korea.

Nuclear-powered submarines carry several advantages that help them appeal to countries, but the technology used to build them is rare and extremely complex. Regular submarines, which run on diesel, need to take in air to keep their engines running, requiring them to surface every once in a while. However, nuclear submarines have a near-limitless energy source onboard, allowing them to stay submerged for as long as needed, given that the vessel is carrying enough provisions for the crew to survive.

Currently, the United States carries a fleet of around 70 nuclear submarines – the world's largest – many of which are carrying nuclear missiles that can launch at any given time. Even one nuclear submarine is an incredible weapon for any country that possesses it. However, only six countries actually have one in their military arsenal: the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, India, China, and France.

Despite this, the United States has worked to assist South Korea in their development of their first nuclear submarine as North Korea has shored up their military capabilities over the past few years.

South Korea had previously been banned from building one due to an agreement with the US, but President Donald Trump reversed that rule in October, allowing South Korea to move forward with their plans.

Meanwhile, North Korea confirmed that a nuclear submarine of their own was in the works, which they unveiled the early stages of back in March. Now, the country's latest release has revealed that they are closer to the completion of the submarine than previously thought, and South Korea will not be able to build one before North Korea brings their submarine to operational status.

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Image credit to KCNA