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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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South Korea has launched a missile submarine amid North Korea's nuclear advances and reports that it received support from Russia in developing underwater warfare.
Newsweek has contacted the North Korean Embassy in Beijing for comment via email.
Why It Matters
During a military parade earlier this month, North Korea showcased a nuclear-armed missile capable of striking the U.S. and strategic cruise missiles covering the Korean Peninsula. Recent South Korean intelligence also indicated that Russia, a strategic partner of the North, supplied a nuclear reactor for the country's submarine program.
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Facing North Korea's continuing development of nuclear and missile programs, South Korea, a United States mutual defense treaty ally, has developed a military strategy known as the "three-axis system," providing preemptive and retaliatory strike options against the North and defensive measures to guard against air and missile threats.
What To Know
ROKS Jang Yeong-sil, South Korea's first of three 3,600-ton KSS-III Batch-II-class diesel-electric attack submarines, was launched at Hanwha Ocean's dockyard in Geoje, in the southern part of the country, on Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.
According to the report, the Batch-II-class is more advanced than the 3,000-ton Batch-I-class, featuring upgraded detection and strike capabilities. South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration called it a "world-class diesel-electric submarine."
The Jang Yeong-sil is equipped with six torpedo tubes and 10 vertical launching system cells for firing Hyunmoo-IV-4 ballistic missiles, according to the defense outlet Naval News. The Batch-I-class is equipped with only six vertical launching system cells.
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The Hyunmoo-IV-4 missile has a range of up to 497 miles, Naval News reported. The Batch-II-class is expected to be part of the "three-axis system," tasked with eliminating nuclear and missile targets across North Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Another major feature of the submarine is its lithium-ion batteries, which extend the vessel's deployment and allow it to sustain high-speed maneuvers, reducing the risk of detection, South Korea's navy and Defense Acquisition Program Administration said.
The Jang Yeong-sil will undergo trials before its scheduled delivery to the navy at the end of 2027. Its two sister ships from the same batch are currently under construction.
Meanwhile, Hanwha Ocean, a major shipbuilder in South Korea, was selected by the Canadian government in August as one of two "qualified suppliers" for the country's submarine project, which aims to acquire up to 12 submarines to protect its coastline.
What People Are Saying
The South Korean navy and Defense Acquisition Program Administration said in a press release on Wednesday: "As the Navy's first 3,600-ton-class submarine, the ROKS Jang Yeong-sil represents a world-class diesel-electric submarine and a key strategic asset with enhanced capabilities to respond to a wide range of maritime security threats."
Lee Sang-woo, director general of the KSS-III Submarine Project Team, said at the launch of the submarine ROKS Jang Yeong-sil on Wednesday: "This launching ceremony served as a valuable opportunity to showcase the outstanding technological capabilities of Korean Defense Industry to the Korean people and the world. We expect that Korean Submarines will become key strategic assets leading global security and peace while greatly contributing to the expansion of Korea's defense exports."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether South Korea will further expand its submarine fleet to strengthen preemptive and retaliatory strike capabilities to deter North Korea.
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