Chicago – December 27, 2025
An escalating competition to develop nuclear-powered submarines is reshaping military dynamics on the Korean Peninsula, as both North and South Korea move rapidly to advance their undersea warfare capabilities amid evolving U.S. security policies in the region.
North Korea’s state media this week unveiled an image of what it described as an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided-missile submarine the first time Pyongyang has publicly disclosed the vessel’s tonnage and nearly completed hull since announcing its nuclear submarine ambitions in 2021.
Leader Kim Jong Un said the submarine is intended to strengthen national defense against what he called an increasingly dangerous security environment. He also condemned South Korea’s plans to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines, labeling the move an “offensive act that must be countered.”
Meanwhile, South Korea has accelerated its own nuclear submarine initiative after receiving approval from former U.S. President Donald Trump in October. A cross-government task force was launched in Seoul last week, and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac confirmed that South Korea is seeking an agreement for U.S. supply of military-grade nuclear fuel.
This development aligns with Washington’s broader strategic shift, encouraging allies to invest more heavily in their own defense capabilities and assume greater responsibility for regional security.
South Korea has pursued nuclear submarine technology for decades in response to Pyongyang’s growing nuclear threats which have expanded into maritime domains in recent years. North Korea has not only advanced its nuclear-powered submarine program, but has also conducted tests of submarine-launched nuclear missiles and claims to have developed a nuclear-capable torpedo, further intensifying the undersea arms race.
As both nations push forward with nuclear-powered naval assets, analysts warn that the rapidly accelerating submarine competition could significantly heighten military tensions across Northeast Asia.
