Experts: Russia may have secretly supplied nuclear submarine tech to North Korea

Defense Express writes about this.

North Korea recently unveiled its first nuclear submarine for "guided strategic missiles," a major leap in its military capabilities. Experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington believe Russia secretly supplied the technology, avoiding satellite detection.

Kim Jong-un didn’t travel 20 hours by train to Vladivostok just to talk about food, CSIS analysts argue, pointing to his 2023 visit to Russia. They also highlight that North Korea has sent over $5 billion in weapons and ammunition to Russia, making a tech transfer plausible.

Despite satellite monitoring of rail traffic, no clear evidence of deliveries exists. However, South Korean estimates suggest the new submarine has a displacement of 6,000-7,000 tons and can carry up to 10 missiles, raising questions about the project’s origins.

Possible models include Russia’s K-152 Nerpa submarine or Soviet-era Project 658, but the dimensions also match China's 093-class submarines — though it's unclear if China would share such technology.

If Russia did transfer nuclear submarine technology, it signals a deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, further distancing North Korea from China and strengthening its military ties with Russia.