North Korea Unveils Nuclear Submarine, Signals Expanded Missile Production... Preparing for North Korea?U.S. 'Nuclear Arms Reduction Talks'?

Following the release of photos of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine (nuclear submarine) on Christmas Day, North Korea has now signaled a large-scale expansion of missile production. As speculation grows that North Korea-U.S. dialogue could resume next April during President Donald Trump's visit to China, some analysts interpret these moves as a strategy to steer discussions toward 'arms reduction negotiations' while simultaneously demanding recognition as a nuclear-armed state.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un visited key military-industrial enterprises to inspect the production status of missiles and shells for the fourth quarter, reported Korean Central Television on the 26th. [Korean Central Television footage] 2025.12.26 Yonhap News Agency

On December 26, the Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jongun visited 'key military industrial enterprises' to provide on-site guidance and emphasized the "need to further expand overall production capacity to meet the prospective national missile and artillery force operational requirements." This statement came just after North Korea made a surprise public unveiling of a fully assembled nuclear submarine, which appears to have completed its reactor installation, and further underscored the regime's focus on military expansion. The timing is especially noteworthy as it comes ahead of the 9th Party Congress, which will determine North Korea's major domestic and foreign policy directions for the next five years.

There are questions regarding the actual capabilities of the nuclear submarine unveiled by North Korea. Choi Il, Director of the Submarine Research Institute and former inaugural captain of the Navy submarine Son Wonil, commented, "It appears that the construction process has been halted, and the focus is on outward appearances," adding, "Among existing strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs), this is the lowest-performing vessel." He further noted, "It is impossible to verify the internal equipment," and stated, "There is no evidence yet to confirm that North Korea's SSBN is close to operational deployment." North Korea did not specify when the released photos of the nuclear submarine were taken.

The 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine unveiled by North Korea on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News

Some analysts also suggest that North Korea is laying the groundwork for recognition as a 'nuclear-armed state' as the possibility of renewed North Korea-U.S. talks is raised in connection with President Trump's visit to China in April next year. Im Eulchul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, explained, "By implying that it has built a nuclear submarine and increased shell production despite stringent sanctions, North Korea is continuously pressuring the United States that negotiations between nuclear-armed states, rather than sanctions, are the only viable path forward."

The government is refraining from making any official comments regarding North Korea's moves. At a regular briefing, Lee Kyungho, Deputy Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, responded to related questions with a brief statement: "We are closely monitoring the situation." Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff also stated its basic position: "We are continuously tracking trends in North Korea's weapons development."