Kim Jong Un will ‘lose sleep’ over prospect of South Korean nuclear sub: Ahn



News Kim Jong Un will ‘lose sleep’ over prospect of South Korean nuclear sub: Ahn Seoul’s defense minister emphasizes vessel’s stealth capabilities and says construction could take less than 10 years Joon Ha Park November 10, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON The 3,000-ton ROKS Shin Chae-ho, the last of South Korea’s KSS-III class Batch I submarines on duty, and ROK Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back at the 57th Security Consultative Meeting \| Image: ROK Defense Acquisition Program Administration (April 4, 2024), ROK Ministry of National Defense (Nov. 5, 2025), edited by NK News North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “will lose sleep” over the prospect of South Korea deploying a nuclear-powered submarine, Seoul’s defense minister said Sunday, forecasting that construction could finish within the next decade. ROK defense minister Ahn Gyu-back made the remarks during an interview with national broadcaster KBS, discussing the Lee Jae-myung administration’s plans to develop nuclear-powered vessels and ongoing preparations to assume wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington by 2030. Ahn said a nuclear-powered submarine would dramatically enhance the South Korean navy’s capabilities by providing greater underwater endurance and stealth potential compared to its current fleet of diesel-electric submarines. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Kim Jong Un will ‘lose sleep’ over prospect of South Korean nuclear sub: Ahn

Seoul’s defense minister emphasizes vessel’s stealth capabilities and says construction could take less than 10 years

Joon Ha Park November 10, 2025

Kim Jong Un will ‘lose sleep’ over prospect of South Korean nuclear sub: Ahn

The 3,000-ton ROKS Shin Chae-ho, the last of South Korea’s KSS-III class Batch I submarines on duty, and ROK Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back at the 57th Security Consultative Meeting | Image: ROK Defense Acquisition Program Administration (April 4, 2024), ROK Ministry of National Defense (Nov. 5, 2025), edited by NK News

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “will lose sleep” over the prospect of South Korea deploying a nuclear-powered submarine, Seoul’s defense minister said Sunday, forecasting that construction could finish within the next decade.

ROK defense minister Ahn Gyu-back made the remarks during an interview with national broadcaster KBS, discussing the Lee Jae-myung administration’s plans to develop nuclear-powered vessels and ongoing preparations to assume wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington by 2030.

Ahn said a nuclear-powered submarine would dramatically enhance the South Korean navy’s capabilities by providing greater underwater endurance and stealth potential compared to its current fleet of diesel-electric submarines.

Kim Jong Un will ‘lose sleep’ over prospect of South Korean nuclear sub: Ahn

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