Development of Nuclear Warheads and New Ballistic Missiles "Progressing Smoothly"
Development of Nuclear Submarines Capable of Launching SLBMs Still "Facing Difficulties"
North Korea Completes Large-Scale Resort Complex in Kalma District
North Korea is reportedly making steady progress in the development of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles?two of its "five major strategic weapons tasks"?but is facing significant difficulties in areas such as nuclear-powered submarines.
According to the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) on June 26, research fellow Shin Seungki stated this assessment in his recent report titled "Evaluation of North Korea's Progress on the Five Major Strategic Weapons Tasks." Previously, during the 8th Party Congress in 2021, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un outlined five major tasks for the 2021?2025 period: development of a super-large nuclear warhead, improvement of strike accuracy within a 15,000 km range, development of underwater and ground-based solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), development of nuclear submarines and underwater-launched nuclear strategic weapons, and development of hypersonic weapons.
The report assesses that North Korea's nuclear weapons technology has reached the level of the United States and Russia in the 1950s, and that the country has begun limited mass production of early-model super-large (strategic) nuclear warheads. It also evaluates that North Korea has achieved results in developing new types of ballistic missiles capable of carrying these warheads. The development of solid-fuel ICBMs, specifically the Hwasong-18 and Hwasong-19 models with ranges exceeding 15,000 km, is cited as evidence of this progress.
Shin Seungki analyzed, "The development of solid-fuel ICBMs means that the only remaining step is to conduct a maximum-range flight test at a normal launch angle, which will verify both the performance of the strategic nuclear warheads currently under development and mass production, and the stable atmospheric reentry of the reentry vehicles carrying them."
In contrast, North Korea is reportedly struggling with the development of nuclear submarines, which are considered a core asset for building strategic deterrence. Although North Korea recently unveiled a new nuclear submarine under construction, its actual capabilities are said to remain at an early stage. There are also concerns that North Korea may seek to compensate for its lack of technology and resources by leveraging its recently strengthened relationship with Russia.
Shin Seungki stated, "The sluggish progress in developing strategic platforms such as nuclear submarines suggests that North Korea has not yet secured sufficient means to maximize its strategic effectiveness at this stage." He added, "During the upcoming 9th Party Congress period (2026?2030), North Korea is expected to complete the development of improved versions of strategic and tactical nuclear warheads, and to pursue the parallel development of strategic nuclear submarines capable of operating submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)."
Meanwhile, on this day, North Korea announced that the large-scale resort complex 'Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area' has been completed and will begin operations on July 1. The completion ceremony, held on June 24, was attended by leader Kim Jong-un, his wife Ri Solju, and their daughter Ju-ae.
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