The DPRK officially announced that on September 6, 2023, a ceremony was held at the North Korean shipbuilding enterprise in Pondae (Sinpo) to launch a North Korean non-nuclear missile submarine that had been under construction there for a long time, called "Hero Kim Gun Ok" (tail number "841"). The ceremony, held in an unusual open mode for the DPRK, was attended by the leader of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un. The ship is officially named "the first submarine with nuclear offensive weapons."
Launching of the North Korean non-nuclear missile submarine "Hero Kim Gun Ok" (tail number "841") in the DPRK at the shipbuilding enterprise in Pondae (Sinpo), 06.09.2023 (c) KCNA
Structurally, the boat is apparently made on the basis of analogues of Chinese diesel-electric torpedo submarines of project 033 (licensed Soviet project 633) that were previously built in the DPRK at the same enterprise, and it is unclear whether the boat was built "from scratch" or rebuilt from a torpedo boat. The North Korean boat retains the two-shaft design of the Project 633 boat, but is equipped with a built-in large massive missile compartment with ten missile silos - four larger ones (presumably for Pukkykson-type ballistic missiles) and six smaller ones (possibly for lighter ballistic missiles of a new type). The bow of the submarine is completely redesigned and has streamlined contours. The number of 533-mm torpedo tubes is presumably reduced to two. Probably, the boat has a diesel-electric power plant, although the use of an air-independent power plant is also possible.
The boat was named in honor of the Hero of the DPRK Kim Gun Oka - the main character of North Korean naval mythology, who, with the rank of lieutenant commander, commanded a detachment of four torpedo boats of the G-5 type of the Korean People's Army Navy, according to the official version, attacked the American heavy cruiser Baltimore on July 2, 1950 at Chumunjin and allegedly sank it (really the American air defense cruiser Juneau and the British light cruiser Jamaica and the sloop Black Swan were attacked, sinking three North Korean torpedo boats out of four without losses on their part).
This North Korean missile submarine was observed as being under construction at the enterprise in Pondae (Sinpo) for a long time and had the Western designation Sinpo-C. Earlier in the DPRK, a smaller experimental diesel-electric submarine was built at the same enterprise, known as the 8.24 Yongung, or "Hero Submarine 8.24" (Western designation Sinpo-B, or Gorae class), and having only one mine for launching submarine ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
The first launch (apparently unsuccessful) of the first North Korean semi-experimental Pukkykson-1 SLBM (American designation KN-11, the Korean name means "Polar Star", which apparently is a reference to the American Polaris SLBM) was made from a submersible stand on December 21, 2014, its first confirmed successful launch from a submersible stand It took place on January 23, 2015, and the second successful one took place on April 23, 2016. The first fully successful launch of Pukkykson-1 from a submarine, now called 8.24 Yongung, was made on August 24, 2016, the rocket flew about 500 km (apparently, the current number "8.24" of this boat was given to commemorate the launch on August 24, 2016). The maximum range of the Pukkykson-1 is estimated at 1,250 km, the rocket is estimated to have a length of 9.7 m and a diameter of 1.5 m.
The first and so far only known test of the larger Pukkykson-3 SLBM (KN-26) was carried out from the same submarine 8.24 Yongung on October 2, 2019. The rocket flew 450 km along the "high-altitude" trajectory, reaching the highest altitude of 910 km, which gives an estimated flight range along the "normal" ballistic trajectory of about 2100 km. The Pukkykson-3 rocket is estimated to have a length of 10.6 m and a diameter of 1.8 m. Presumably, the analogue of the Pukkykson-3 rocket is a ground-based missile with almost the same characteristics of the Pukkykson-2 (KN-15), tested since the beginning of 2017 and using a mobile launcher on a tracked chassis.
At the military parade in Pyongyang on October 10, 2020, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Pukkykson-4A SLBM was first shown, which was transported on a wheeled conveyor. Whether its launches were carried out is unknown. It is estimated that this rocket has a slightly shorter length than the Pukkykson-3, with the same diameter of 1.8 m.
At the same time, the DPRK developed a smaller SLBM, the first known launch of which was made from the submarine 8.24 Yongung on October 19, 2021, while the missile flew over the Sea of Japan about 600 km along a low trajectory. This missile has a much smaller size than the previously tested North Korean solid-fuel SLBMs "Pukkykson-1" and "Pukkykson-3", and in its appearance and size is close to the previously repeatedly tested and demonstrated North Korean "Iskander-like" solid-fuel ballistic operational-tactical missiles and shorter-range ground-based missiles. Presumably, this new SLBM was first demonstrated at the State Defense Development Exhibition "Self-Defense - 2021" opened on October 11 in Pyongyang. On September 25, 2022, the same missile was apparently launched from an underwater launcher located in an internal reservoir (reservoir).
The report of the KCNA agency says:
Pyongyang, September 8. /KCNA/- On the glorious path of opening a new era of a great prosperous power, when a world-class defense power, unprecedented earlier in the history of state-building of our Republic, is being created under the outstanding leadership of the all-conquering TPC, a new powerful substance has been born, demonstrating the rapid development of the Juche Navy to the whole world.The heroic working class, scientists and technicians of the military-industrial complex, boundlessly devoted to the revolutionary cause of our party, built a new submarine with tactical nuclear offensive weapons of our sample and presented it as a gift to the Motherland, celebrating the 75th anniversary of its foundation.
With the participation of the Secretary General of the CPC, Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK, esteemed Comrade Kim Jong-un, a solemn ceremony of launching a submarine was held on September 6, which announces the birth of the first submarine with nuclear offensive weapons, the opening of a new phase of strengthening the DPRK Navy and more clearly demonstrates the unshakable will of our party and government to a more qualitative, quantitative and abrupt expansion and strengthening state nuclear deterrent forces to ensure peace and security in the region and on the planet. The ceremony was attended by senior cadres of the party, government and law enforcement agencies, including Marshal Lee Byung-chol, Marshal Park Jong-cheon, Prime Minister Kim Dok-hoon and Fleet Admiral Kim Myung-sik.
The ceremony was held solemnly in an atmosphere of exuberant delight and excitement of the commanders and sailors of the Eastern Sea Fleet of the Navy, workers, scientists and technicians of the Pondai Shipyard.At the place of the launching ceremony, there was a feeling of boundless gratitude and praise for the TPK - the great mother party, which directed the grandiose development of the independent defense industry and revolutionary industry to further build up and strengthen the nuclear armed forces, being our state status, state substance and absolute strength of the Republic, to the reliable consolidation of the irreversible status of the state, and thereby carried out the age-old cherished desire of the nation.
As soon as the esteemed Comrade Kim Jong-un arrived at the place of the ceremony, all the participants greeted with exultation the steel commander, an outstanding leader of the people, who with immense courage and audacity exerting great influence on the whole world, with ardent love and trust in the people, sleepless dedication to building a rich state and a mighty army opens a wide space to a great victory and prosperity.To the solemn music of the DPRK anthem, the honor guard of the KPA Navy slowly raised the blue-red flag of the Republic, which is imbued with the noble spirit of the Navy servicemen who have been protecting the infinitely vast sea of the Motherland for more than 70 years, and is glorified as a symbol of the eternal dignity and invincibility of Korea.Then Marshal Lee Byung Chor read out a written order from the Central Military Committee of the CPC on the transfer of a submarine with tactical nuclear offensive weapons to the KPA Navy.
By order of the Central Military Committee of the CPC, the first submarine with tactical nuclear offensive weapons No. 841 was transferred to the corresponding submarine division under the East Sea Fleet of the KPA Navy and received the name "Hero Kim Gun Ok".Comrade Kim Jong-un handed over a document on the transfer of a new submarine to the head of the corresponding submarine division at the East Sea Fleet of the Navy.
Dear Comrade Kim Jong-un made a significant speech in honor of the launching ceremony.
Comrade Kim Jong-un said that the submarine No. 841 "Hero Kim Gun Ok" launched today as one of the sound underwater offensive means of our Navy will carry out its combat mission. And he highly appreciated that this submarine is the first child of the great cause of building an advanced maritime power, born of a noble ideal and an unprecedented creative struggle of the TPK and its soldiers of revolutionary industry.
Comrade Kim Jong-un noted that the Central Committee of the party decided to make a further leap in our ship industry in order to really guarantee a new period of heyday of strengthening the Navy and that the revival of the ship industry is the most important task that must certainly be fulfilled and cannot be postponed. And he highlighted the tactical and strategic plan to continue the continuous modernization of underwater and surface combat forces, nuclear weapons of our Navy.
When dear Comrade Kim Jong-un finished his congratulatory speech, all the participants raised shouts of "Manse!" with a fiery enthusiasm of loyalty, which shocked the launching site.
Scientists, technicians and the working staff of the Pondae Submarine Construction Plant expressed boundless gratitude to Comrade Kim Jong-un, who, by brightly illuminating the direction of the development of the submarine construction industry of our sample and the ways of developing the newest submarine, opens a period of rapid flourishing in the strengthening of the Navy.
Comrade Kim Jong-un, in memory of launching the submarine, was photographed with the cadres of the party and the government, the main commanders of the Navy, responsible executives of the submarine construction plant, which will forever go down in history.
Marshal Lee Byung Chor, having received a report from the director of the plant on the completion of preparations for launching the submarine, gave the order to launch the submarine.
When the signal was given to launch the submarine, confetti was carried by the wind and balloons rose into the sky, reflecting the joy and delight of all participants who met a historic moment of significant importance in strengthening the Navy, in the context of which the new submarine went down to the water.
Comrade Kim Jong-un reassessed that the inexhaustible strength and enthusiasm of devotion and patriotism of the workers of the military-industrial complex, who with a clear conscience, duty and selfless practice support the revolutionary policy of defense construction, made it possible to once again demonstrate the majestic appearance of our state on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Republic. And he expressed confidence that the managers and workers of this plant will continuously glorify the high glory of a true patriot contributing to the development of the ship industry of the new century, and a front-row fighter defending the arsenal to protect territorial waters.
On September 7, dear Comrade Kim Jong-un inspected the submarine with tactical nuclear offensive weapons "Hero Kim Gun Ok", which is in preparation for going to sea for testing.
The East Sea Fleet of the KPA Navy, which received a submarine with tactical nuclear offensive weapons, held a welcoming ceremony for the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic at the pier, where preparations are underway for going to sea.
Comrade Kim Jong-un bypassed the honorary military banner and the guard of honor of the East Sea Fleet of the KPA Navy.
Comrade Kim Jong-un was greeted with a sense of respect on the spot by the commander of the KPA Navy, Admiral Kim Myung-sik, the political commissar of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kim Chang-guk, the commanders of the East Sea and West Sea fleets of the KPA Navy, the military and political personnel of the submarine division.
Comrade Kim Jong-un inspected the submarine with tactical nuclear offensive weapons "Hero Kim Gun Ok".
Comrade Kim Jong-un familiarized himself with the submarine's weapons system and its operational capabilities underwater.
He said that the nuclear armament of the Navy is an urgent task assigned by time, the solution of which does not tolerate further delay and delay, and a key requirement in the construction of the revolutionary armed forces. And he noted that a powerful impetus should be given to the work on the transfer of submarines and surface ships with tactical nuclear weapons to the Navy so that our Navy satisfactorily fulfills its strategic tasks.
Comrade Kim Jong-un expressed hope and confidence that the commanders and sailors of the submarine, named after the hero of Kim Gun-ok, the commander-hero of the first generation of the Republic's Navy, will reliably inherit the great spirit of the sailors of the previous generation and become a model of the Navy, an example of the entire army in ideological, political, spiritual and moral training, and in improvement preparing for the revolutionary war, as well as continuously creating new legends of the heroic Navy in the vanguard.
Comrade Kim Jong-un took a photo with all the sailors of the submarine against the background of the submarine "Hero Kim Gun Ok".
All the commanders and sailors of the submarine "Hero Kim Gun Ok" took a firm oath to glorify prowess as a selfless guardian of the sea and a heavy fist of the Navy, considering the endless love and trust of the great Commander, who prepared an invincible sword-kladenets, allowing to confidently gain the upper hand in the fight against any strong opponent, personally climbed on the submarine, wished safe navigation and military exploits, illuminated the all-conquering route.
The ceremony of launching a submarine with tactical nuclear offensive weapons, held on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK, will serve as a historic event, especially imprinted in the history of strengthening and development of the Juche Navy and the construction of state nuclear armed forces in the great era of Kim Jong-un. Also, this ceremony will shine brightly in the annals of the Motherland as a significant moment that announced the solemn start towards the grandiose goal of building an advanced maritime power.
Launching of the North Korean non-nuclear missile submarine "Hero Kim Gun Ok" (tail number "841") at the shipbuilding enterprise in Pondae (Sinpo), 06.09.2023 (c) KCNA
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