North Korea unveiled the completed hull of what it described as a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine, escalating the underwater arms race with South Korea. The announcement, made Thursday through state media, included photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the vessel.

Kim Jong-un had previously identified the construction of a nuclear submarine as a key weapons project during the Workers Party congress in 2021. State media released images in March showing the submarine under construction. The unveiling of the completed hull suggests significant progress in the program, though no timeline for completion or deployment was announced.

The development comes as North Korea condemned South Korea's plans to build its own nuclear-powered submarine, characterizing it as a security threat. The two nations have been engaged in a broader arms race, with both sides investing heavily in advanced military technologies.

Analysts have raised questions regarding North Korea's ability to acquire the necessary technologies and components for a nuclear submarine, particularly the sourcing and installation of a small nuclear reactor. Hong Min, a senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, stated that the completed and welded hull suggests the reactor has already been mounted inside.

The unveiling of the submarine hull represents a step forward for North Korea's military capabilities, but the actual operational status of the vessel remains uncertain. The international community will be closely monitoring further developments in this program.