Joh Hanbeom "Transferring Russian nuclear submarine technology to North Korea? Even if given, they can't handle it"

"Even if the US gives us nuclear submarine technology, it will take 10-20 years"
"Showcase... No history of transferring strategic technology"

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, who visited Russia for the first time in four years, raised the possibility of technology transactions involving intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and nuclear-powered submarines during his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 13th. However, Jo Han-beom, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification and a Russia expert, pointed out that North Korea lacks the capability to operate such technologies, describing it as "giving a steak to a baby."

On the 13th, Jo said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "From Kim Jong-un's perspective, he is greedy because he needs nuclear-powered submarines and must complete ICBMs. But, for example, if they give nuclear-powered submarine technology, it is the same as giving a steak to a baby."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Having the technology does not mean it can be immediately weaponized. He explained, "Even if given, they cannot use it. For example, even if the U.S. changes its mind and gives us nuclear-powered submarine technology, it would take us 10 to 20 years to produce it," adding, "some say that if given a reactor, they would quickly build it, but that is absolutely not true."

Jo further stated, "So this time, Kim Jong-un is boasting about having operational capability with some strange submarine," and added, "they might provide some outdated technology related to artificial intelligence or ICBMs, but they will not give cutting-edge technology, and even if they do, it is useless without the infrastructure."

Jo explained that this North Korea-Russia summit will likely be limited to a 'technology showcase.' He said, "They will visit places like the Vostochny Cosmodrome or the Sukhoi aircraft production base in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, but it is just a showcase. There has never been a case on Earth where strategic technologies such as nuclear technology, ICBM technology, or satellite technology have been transferred," adding, "so even if promises are made this time, it is just to entice North Korea, and ultimately Russia will not keep those promises."

He predicted that actual transactions will be limited to conventional military supplies such as ammunition, Russian food and fertilizer, and some conventional weapon modernization technology. Jo said, "They can show as many showcases as they want now, but for now, conventional military supplies like ammunition, Russian food, fertilizer, and some conventional weapon modernization are enough for both sides to profit."

Jo explained that Russia does not transfer advanced technology because it does not fully trust North Korea. He said, "Because they do not know when North Korea might turn its back," adding, "There are no eternal enemies or allies on Earth, and there is no absolute good or evil externally. The U.S. is a blood ally now, but no one knows what will happen in a few years."