The North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity (NKIS), a North Korean dissident organization based in Seoul claims that North Korea has been developing a new 3000-ton ballistic missile submarine since 2009. If true, the new submarine will be significantly larger than the 1,650-ton (submerged) Gorae (or sometimes called Sinpo-class because of the location of first sighting) ballistic missile submarine (SSB) currently in service with the Korean People’s Navy (KPN).
The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University also came to the same conclusion based on its analysis of commercial satellite images. Its published a report on its website, 38 North that "strongly suggests that a naval construction program is underway at North Korea's Sinpo South Shipyard, possibly to build a new submarine," .
Other than the Gorea, the KPN’s submarine fleet consists of around 20 Romeo-class 1,800-ton diesel-electric boats and 40 domestically-built 370-ton Sang-O-class diesel-electric mini-submarines as well as and approximately 10 130-ton Yono-class midget submarines.
straitstimes.com
38north.org
thediplomat.com
The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University also came to the same conclusion based on its analysis of commercial satellite images. Its published a report on its website, 38 North that "strongly suggests that a naval construction program is underway at North Korea's Sinpo South Shipyard, possibly to build a new submarine," .
Other than the Gorea, the KPN’s submarine fleet consists of around 20 Romeo-class 1,800-ton diesel-electric boats and 40 domestically-built 370-ton Sang-O-class diesel-electric mini-submarines as well as and approximately 10 130-ton Yono-class midget submarines.
Comparison of Submarine Strength - Source: Yonhap News Agency.
straitstimes.com
38north.org
thediplomat.com
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