Overview
- KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un toured a construction site for what it called an 8,700-ton nuclear strategic submarine.
- The report criticized South Korea’s submarine plan as a serious threat and said it must be answered, citing U.S. support.
- North Korean coverage offered no verifiable details on the construction stage, reactor development, timing, or location of the visit.
- South Korean experts questioned Pyongyang’s ability to build a compact naval reactor and complete such a complex platform.
- Separate North Korean reports said Kim observed a long-range surface-to-air missile test on December 24 that allegedly hit a target 200 kilometers away.