Military Authorities Assess "North Korea Has Completed Development of Three Types of SLBMs" [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

Pukguksong-4S, Pukguksong-5S and other IRBM-class missiles remain under development

Nuclear-armed unmanned underwater attack vehicle "Haeil" assessed to be at the intermediate stage of development

It has been confirmed that South Korea's military authorities believe North Korea has completed development of three types of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). North Korea has officially announced that each SLBM was still under development whenever it conducted a test launch, but this is the first time it has internally acknowledged completing development.

According to a report titled "Status of North Korea's Development of Maritime Nuclear Delivery Systems," prepared by the military authorities and dated Nov. 9, North Korea possesses six types of SLBMs. The authorities assessed that development was complete for the Pukguksong launched in August 2016, the Pukguksong-3 (MRBM-class) launched in October 2019, and the tactical SLBM (mini-SLBM) launched in September 2022. They assessed that development was not yet complete for the Pukguksong-4S, Pukguksong-5S (IRBM-class), and large SLBM (ICBM-class).

The military authorities believe North Korea is likely to use its new tactical nuclear attack submarine, the Kim Kun Ok Hero, launched in September 2023, to test-fire the Pukguksong-4S and Pukguksong-5S. The submarine can carry 10 SLBMs. North Korea last test-fired an SLBM in May 2022, when it launched a "mini-SLBM" from a submarine.

The military assessed that the strategic cruise missile (SLCM) North Korea launched in January 2024 was still in the initial flight-test phase and had not been deployed operationally. At the time, North Korea announced that the missile had struck its target after flying 1,500 km.

However, the military believes North Korea's nuclear-armed unmanned underwater attack vehicle, Haeil, which it first unveiled in 2023, had reached the intermediate stage of development. Haeil was test-launched three times in March and April 2023. At the time, the vehicles were named Haeil, Haeil-1, and Haeil-2. In its last test launch, in December 2024, North Korea called the vehicle Haeil-5-23. Analysts suggested that North Korea may have significantly improved its explosive power, submerged range, and ability to launch a surprise attack. With its greatly enhanced performance, the nuclear torpedo could threaten U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. North Korea said the launch of Haeil-5-23 was a response to a South Korea-U.S.-Japan maritime exercise held in international waters off Jeju Island, involving nine vessels, including the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, in what it called the largest exercise of its kind.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.