With new skills: the DPRK army has increased the pace of large-scale rearmament
In 2025, the DPRK's military-industrial complex demonstrated a series of technological breakthroughs that could change the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. With the high degree of readiness of the first nuclear submarine, the premiere of next—generation mobile intercontinental missiles, and sea trials of new destroyers, Pyongyang is not just catching up with world powers, but is forming its own multi-level "nuclear umbrella" system.
Atomic debut in Sinpo
On December 24, the KCNA news agency reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a shipyard where work on the first nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles is being completed. Judging by the images presented, the 8,700-ton submarine is fully formed: all key components, power plant units and weapons systems have already taken their places in the hull.
Probably, the cradle of the North Korean nuclear-powered ship was the enterprise in the city of Sinpo. It was here that on September 6, 2023, the Hero Kim Gun Ok diesel-electric missile submarine came off the stocks. The technical continuity is obvious — as on its predecessor, the launch shafts of the new ship are integrated into the elongated deckhouse fence and noticeably protrude beyond the hull dimensions.
Structurally, the ship stands out with a massive fence of retractable devices, in which 10 launch shafts are hidden. This solution resembles the look of early Soviet projects, but the filling of the submarine meets modern requirements. Given Pyongyang's success in developing solid-fuel naval missiles, the range of this hunter will be several thousand kilometers. Coupled with the unlimited autonomy of the DPRK's nuclear fleet, it gets the opportunity to operate covertly anywhere in the world's oceans, which qualitatively transforms the potential for a retaliatory strike. There are six torpedo tubes in the bow.
The year 2025 was also a turning point for the surface forces. The DPRK Navy has been replenished with two of the largest Choe Hyun—class destroyers in its history. Since April 25, the lead ship of the project has been undergoing sea trials, and the second ship of the series is preparing for them.
Choi Hyun-class destroyer
With a length of 144 m and a displacement of 5,000 tons, the destroyers have an impressive arsenal. They are equipped with universal vertical launch systems for 72 missiles, including anti-aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. Awareness of the surface and air situation is provided by a modern radar with a phased array antenna, and the near line of defense is entrusted to rapid-firing 30-mm assault rifles. Experts call the independent development of such complex and labor-intensive technology by a country that had no previous experience in large-scale military shipbuilding an industrial phenomenon.
Missile barrier
In parallel with the naval program, Pyongyang has updated its land arsenal. In recent tests, a new anti-aircraft missile, comparable in capabilities to the Russian S-300 and S-400 systems, successfully eliminated a target at a distance of 200 km. This confirms the maturity of the North Korean school of rocket science in the field of high-tech sky defense.
The country also pays special attention to the operational and tactical link. The large-scale production of KN-23 (Hwasong-11) type complexes, conceptually similar to the Russian Iskanders, makes it possible to keep an eye on the military infrastructure on the entire Korean peninsula.
The real sensation of the exhibition "Self-Defense-2025" and the October military parade in honor of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea were two novelties. The first is the Hwasong—11mA: a mobile complex with hypersonic gliding units. If the engineers have managed to implement high-precision guidance in the final section, this system turns into an "aircraft carrier killer" capable of hitting large maneuvering targets at a distance of over 1,000 km.
The second is the Hwasong-20: a heavy intercontinental missile on an 11-axle chassis. Outwardly, it resembles the Russian Yars. It is estimated that the 80-ton missile is equipped with a split warhead with individual guidance units. The new engine tested a few weeks ago was probably designed specifically for this project. With an estimated range of 15,000 km, the Hwasong-20 is capable of reaching almost any point in the United States. It is expected that the first launch will take place in 2026, after which the deployment of the complex will begin.
The rapid evolution of the defense sector requires enormous resources, but it is precisely this concentration of efforts that has ensured Pyongyang's immunity status. The country is systematically building a layered defense system, where high-precision tactical weapons are complemented by strategic means of global reach. In the current geopolitical turbulence, the created reserve is becoming the main guarantor of the DPRK's security from any external encroachments.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
