North Korea shows off nuclear-powered submarine in new photos

North Korea has demonstrated significant progress in developing nuclear-powered submarines. State media published photos of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and his potential heiress daughter inspecting a torso that appeared to be largely complete.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s official state media, said Kim and his daughter visited the shipyard to inspect the construction of what it described as an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine. Associated Press reported. The AP stated that Pyongyang had signaled that it planned to equip the submarine with nuclear weapons. Kim said the development of the submarine is an important step towards the modernization and nuclear armament of his country’s navy.

The release of the photos on Christmas Day marks the first time North Korean state media has shown an update on the nuclear-powered submarine since March. The AP noted that earlier images mostly showed the lower parts of the ship. KCNA did not say when the photos published Thursday were taken.

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Moon Keun-sik, a submarine expert at Seoul’s Hanyang University, told the AP that photographs of the largely completed hull show that most of the core components are already in place, as submarines are typically built from the inside out. But it was not immediately clear how much progress Pyongyang had made.

“Showing the entire ship shows that most of the equipment has already been installed and is almost ready to be launched,” Moon, who also served as a submarine officer in the South Korean navy, told the AP. he said. Moon added that North Korea’s submarine could be ready for sea testing within months.

In this undated photo provided by the North Korean government on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, leader Kim Jong Un, third from left, visits a shipyard while inspecting a nuclear-powered submarine under construction at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Independent journalists were denied access to report on the incident depicted in this footage distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

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While at the shipyard, Kim condemned South Korea’s efforts to develop its own nuclear-powered submarine as an “act of aggression” despite President Donald Trump’s support for Seoul’s push into the technology. Kim said South Korea’s efforts violated North Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty, according to the AP.

In October, during a tour of Asia aimed at securing investments, Trump said the United States would share technology with South Korea that would allow it to build a nuclear-powered submarine. The president shared on Truth Social that the ship will be built in Philadelphia.

In this undated photo provided by the North Korean government on Thursday, December 25, 2025, government leader Kim Jong Un inspects a nuclear-powered submarine under construction at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Independent journalists were denied access to report on the incident depicted in this footage distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

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“South Korea will build its nuclear-powered submarine in Philadelphia shipyards, right here in the old USA. Shipbuilding in our country will soon make a MAJOR comeback.” the president wrote.

The White House underlined this point when making this statement. a note of information In November, there was a direct reference to Washington and Seoul’s efforts to “advance our maritime and nuclear partnership.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.