North Korea Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

6. Specs


An impressive 10 missiles loadout, probably 4 x Pukguksong-1/3 SLBM and 6 x Hwasong-11S aeroballistics missiles or 6 x Hwasal-2 SLCM.


▲ The DPRK's new Romeo-mod SSB. What we've seen and probable mast arrangement (based on Type 033). Sep 8, 2023

North Korea's Hero Kim Kun Ok SSB upper structure was inspired by the Chinese Type 035's sail, but did not redesign the tail like the Type 035. Thanks to the streamlined tail drag is reduced and the sub has higher submerged speed than Type-033/Romeo.


▲ North Korea's Hero Kim Kun Ok SSB upper structure was inspired by the Chinese Type 035's sail.

One aspect that seems quite modern is the bow. Unlike the Type 033/Romeo bow it's dome shaped and likely to accommodate a more modern sonar array.


▲ Artistic depiction of North Korea's Hero Kim Kun Ok SSB launching SLBM strike. 2023.

Photogrammetric measurements

▲ If the diameter of the submarine's hull remains unchanged (which is highly likely), the increase in length of the new submarine is staggering. The red line represents the Type 633 submarine. · Sep 8, 2023

▲ Comparative side view of the new submarine and the original Type 633 submarine. · Sep 8, 2023

China Navy Type 033 Romeo class Attack Submarine SSK
Displacement: 1475 tons (surfaced) / 1830 tons (submerged) ; Length: 76.6 meters (703 pixels); Beam: 6.7 m

DPRK Navy submarine No. 841 Hero Kim Kun Ok SSB
Displacement: 3,000 tons ; Length: ~96.2 meters (883 pixels); Beam: 6.7 m


▲ Meanwhile satellite image taken 6th April 2023 allowing better measurements with Google Map indicate a length closer to 80 m rather than 96 m.


▲ North Korean submarines 2023. Estimated strength. Better measurements with Google Map indicate a length closer to 80 m.

7. Future plan


This means that North Korea could convert up to ~20 Type-033/Romeo-class submarines in its possession into this new type of ballistic missile submarines.

Each armed with 10 warheads, totalling 200 SLBM/SLCM tactical nuclear weapons targeting South Korea and Japan. By taking into account the other basing modes, such as silos, underwater, TEL, MLRS, train-launched, corvette and frigate launched, this makes also the DPRK the world 5th nuclear military power by number of nukes by 2027, right behind the U.S., Russia, China and France, from its current 9th position.


North Korea has adopted a unique policy of mounting nuclear weapons on conventional submarines along with building nuclear submarines, a method unprecedented in the world.

This strategy is a smart stop-gap making good use of the otherwise irrelevant Romeo-class submarines, until nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines can be produced in large number by the end of the decade.

stoa1984 said:

North Korea has adopted a unique policy of mounting nuclear weapons on conventional submarines

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Israel did that too tho in their Dolphin class. and standard Soviet practice to have nuclear torpedo onboard their conventional sub e.g Cuban Missile Crisis.

I wonder if we won't be seeing some of Russia's decommissioned Kilo subs pop up in North Korea.

The Russians have been replacing the Kilos in the Pacific Fleet with more modern ones for example.
Then question is what will you do with the older Kilos.

The older Kilos might be obsolete by Russian standards, but they are leaps ahead of North Korean subs based on the Romeo class.

Similarly aged Kilos are still used in Iran and can be upgraded to fire the Kalibr. So it wouldn't be unusual I think.

During his visit to Russia, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un showed increased interest in all Russian military equipment. Kim Jong-un inspected the frigate of the Pacific Fleet "Marshal Shaposhnikov" of project 1155, visited Russian aircraft factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, viewed Russian fighters Su-34, Su-30SM, Su-35S, attack aircraft Su-25SM3 and MiG-31I with hypersonic missile "Dagger". Kim Jong-un showed particular interest in Russian strategic aviation; he examined in detail the strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3. The DPRK leader was interested in the characteristics of strategic aircraft, their weapons and combat capabilities. Details in the video.

Soldier30 said:

During his visit to Russia, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un showed increased interest in all Russian military equipment. Kim Jong-un inspected the frigate of the Pacific Fleet "Marshal Shaposhnikov" of project 1155, visited Russian aircraft factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, viewed Russian fighters Su-34, Su-30SM, Su-35S, attack aircraft Su-25SM3 and MiG-31I with hypersonic missile "Dagger". Kim Jong-un showed particular interest in Russian strategic aviation; he examined in detail the strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3. The DPRK leader was interested in the characteristics of strategic aircraft, their weapons and combat capabilities. Details in the video.

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It would also make sense for the North Koreans to acquire Russian equipment that the Russians had also supplied to South Korea, for familiarization of their operational use, such as the BMP-3 and SA-16.

Interesting to watch this process overall, and where it will lead.

Everyone sees DPRK as a pure tube and rocket artillery wonderland, but I wonder how much here is open Russian displeasure with ROK visibly taking sides nowadays.
While Korea has indeed avoided donating arms to Ukraine - it does huge supply to Poland. And Poland very openly arms specifically for a future conflict with Russia. Korea does stock compensation ammo transfers, too. How supporting North Korea here and there is especially different? Korean War is on hold.
DPRK is under sanctions - but DPRK sanctions are subject to interpretation. Interpretations, on the other hand, are a function of relations.

Finally, while most ROK-Japan-US triangle (and more southern AUKUS to a smaller degree) is aimed at China and DPRK - the fact stands it is aimed at Russia, too, by extension, and by geography. THAAD was a huge annoyance to China - but it was an annoyance to Russia, too.
Various US allies like to go to Chinese seas to show presence - but they like to do the same around the much more vulnerable Russian Far East, too. Not like Russia doesn't know what happened between the Dutch East Indies and one certain kawaii Japan in the past.


The hard part here indeed was that Republic of Korea and Russian Federation for a very long maintained best possible relations, against all headwinds. But headwinds are now reaching hurricane speeds. South Korea is ultimately a devoted US ally first, and an emerging MIC power trying to carve its part of the Western military trade pie.

For DPRK it's a historical opportunity indeed.

Soldier30 said:

During his visit to Russia, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un showed increased interest in all Russian military equipment. Kim Jong-un inspected the frigate of the Pacific Fleet "Marshal Shaposhnikov" of project 1155, visited Russian aircraft factories in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, viewed Russian fighters Su-34, Su-30SM, Su-35S, attack aircraft Su-25SM3 and MiG-31I with hypersonic missile "Dagger". Kim Jong-un showed particular interest in Russian strategic aviation; he examined in detail the strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3. The DPRK leader was interested in the characteristics of strategic aircraft, their weapons and combat capabilities. Details in the video.

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There is Tu-214 in center. he was checking both Civilian and military aircraft including Sukhoi business jet. Kim also watch TV with pilot in cockpit.

Thinking back to the visit to the base of the Russian fleet I noticed that instead of showing Kim Jong un the latest modern corvettes built of project 20380 and 20385, they showed the elderly and recently returned to the fleet after an extensive modernization of ex destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov of project 1155/ Udaloy class, perhaps interested old units : corvette, frigate or destroyer decommissioned by Russia?!
Furthermore, while going up on the visit you will probably have noticed the Kilo class submarines,

and who knows if having knowledge that a submarine the B345 kilo class / project 877 was decommissioned in 2021 by the Pacific fleet and from 1 September 2023, also the Krasnokamensk also project 877 / Kilo class has been officially withdrawn from the operational fleet of the Pacific Fleet and which together with some surface units could think of re-proposing the opportunity in early 90s style with a purchase for scrap (at the time Golf - Foxtrot and Krivak). Definitely Kilo pr. 877 could still offer important knowledge to the North Korean shipping industry.

North Korean is better off with newer 636 boats. 877 is by now kinda equivalent to a dinosaur and God knows how poor it would be in condition after decommissioned.