South Korea exposes North Korean nuclear submarine secrets.

According to Sputnik, North Korea is building a new generation of submarines capable of launching nuclear missiles. However, information revealed by South Korea suggests a different truth.

Russian media reports that satellite imagery has revealed a new submarine program by the North Korean Navy that could be used to launch ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

Sputnik, citing the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, reported: "Satellite imagery shows a naval construction program underway at North Korea's Sinpo shipyard, possibly aimed at developing new submarines."

According to this source, the new submarine North Korea is building is larger than Pyongyang's GORAE-class submarines, measuring approximately 7 meters in width, the US-Korea Institute assessed.

Although this source claims North Korea is pursuing a new generation submarine program, the South Korean news agency Yonhap revealed completely different information.

Yonhap, citing sources within the North Korean government and military, reported that North Korea has recently commissioned a refurbished Soviet-era submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles.

The source said that North Korea purchased a Soviet-era Golf-class diesel submarine and refurbished it. This particular submarine was built in 1958 and reportedly decommissioned in 1990.

After being "revived" by North Korea, it became a new submarine measuring 67 meters in length, 6.6 meters in width, with a submerged displacement of 3,000 tons and the ability to launch ballistic missiles from underwater. The Soviet Golf-class submarine carried the single-stage R-21 ballistic missile, equipped with a 1,180 kg warhead and a maximum range of 1,420 km.

Images of the mysterious North Korean submarine were seen in 2014.

According to Yonhap, this North Korean submarine may be the same mysterious submarine at the Sinpo South shipyard's mooring area that the 38 North website, which monitors North Korea, detected last month based on satellite imagery data.

To be able to mount ballistic missile launchers on this submarine, North Korea conducted a series of tests both on land and at sea. The 38 North website also discovered a ballistic missile test launch pad built right inside the Sinpo South shipyard.

According to South Korean military experts, North Korea has not yet acquired the technology to deploy ballistic missiles from submarines, and it will take them many more years of research and testing to perfect this technology.

Joseph Bermudez, an expert on international weapons, stated: "It will take North Korea another three or four years to complete tests of launching missiles vertically from underwater."

Information about the Golf-class submarine appearing in the North Korean Navy has partially explained the mysterious submarine that has been reported on by international media in recent days.

The Yonhap news agency previously reported: "The review of commercial satellite imagery... reveals a new testing facility at North Korea's Nam Sinpo shipyard, possibly aimed at researching the possibility of launching ballistic missiles from submarines or from ships capable of vertical missile launches."

According to baodatviet.vn