ICBM Followed by SLBM Provocation...? Unusual Activity at Sinpo Shipyard

8.24 Hero Ship Bow, Coming Out Beyond the Awning... Unusual Movement

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Movements at the Sinpo Shipyard in North Korea are becoming unusual. Following the test launch of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) by the ‘8.24 Hero Ship’ last October, consecutive sightings of its activities have raised speculation about additional provocations involving SLBMs after the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests.

On the 30th (local time), the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) North Korea specialist site ‘Beyond Parallel’ released an analysis of eight satellite images taken between the 16th and 27th of last month, revealing unusual movements of the Sinpo-class (Whale-class) submarine ‘8.24 Hero Ship’.

According to ‘Beyond Parallel,’ the stern of the Hero Ship, which had been docked within the Sinpo Shipyard safety zone, was seen protruding diagonally outside the canopy on the 22nd. Next to it, a small tugboat was visible. This is different from the usual situation where the Hero Ship is positioned under the canopy. The small tugboat was also rarely seen during normal times.

With the submarine’s movements detected, attention is focusing on the possibility of additional provocations involving SLBM launches. Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, previously declared intentions to develop more powerful offensive weapons, hinting at the unveiling of new weapons. This is interpreted as Kim expressing his will to reveal a wider variety of offensive capabilities following the ICBM launches.

At the 8th Party Congress in January last year, General Secretary Kim announced plans to promote the miniaturization and tactical weaponization of nuclear arms, produce ultra-large nuclear warheads, improve the strike accuracy of missiles with a range of 15,000 km, introduce hypersonic glide vehicle warheads, develop solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles for underwater and ground launch, possess nuclear submarines and underwater-launched nuclear strategic weapons, operate military reconnaissance satellites, and develop unmanned reconnaissance drones capable of deep penetration up to 500 km forward.

‘Beyond Parallel’ also considered these factors and analyzed possibilities such as the modification or repair of the Hero Ship, its movement for such purposes, preparation for SLBM test launches, or strategic deception tactics.