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Nuevo submarino de Corea del Norte (1) infographic
El gráfico muestra el nuevo submarino modernizado clase Romeo de diseño soviético de Corea del Norte.
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EJÉRCITOS

Nuevo submarino con misiles de Corea del Norte

By Duncan Mil

September 8, 2023 - Kim Jong-un estuvo presente en la botadura del más reciente “submarino de ataque nuclear táctico” de Corea del Norte. un clase Romeo de diseño soviético radicalmente modernizado, llamado Hero Kim Gun-ok, con número de casco 841.

The diesel-electric-powered missile submarine has been officially unveiled and launched. The ceremony, which Kim Jong-un attended, took place at Sinpo submarine yard on North Korea’s eastern shore on September 6.

Although it will carry nuclear warheads, it is not a “nuclear submarine,” which refers to the propulsion.

Significantly, the submarine has a missile compartment added with ten missile tubes. Given the Hermit Kingdom’s investment in ballistic missiles, it is likely that these are nuclear-capable. The forward four hatches are larger than the aft six, suggesting that the boat will carry multiple types of missiles -- a mix of short-range and longer-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and land-attack cruise missiles (LACs).

In particular, the Hermit Kingdom’s new nuclear-capable cruise missile, the Hwasal-2, was adapted for submarine launch. The Hwasal-2 approximates to the U.S. Navy’s Tomahawk cruise missile.

The submarine appears to have had its bow crudely cut off and capped, while the aft section remains unchanged.

This boat may be the same one seen in July 2019 -- the so-called Gorae/Sinpo-C version of a Romeo-class submarine.

H I Sutton wrote in Naval News: “One hypothesis is that the first Romeo submarine conversion, armed with three Pukguksong missiles, was not successful. And that this boat represents the latest thinking, emphasizing more yet smaller missiles.”

Sources
PUBLISHED: 08/09/2023; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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