A striking image commonly seen in North Korean military propaganda shows a U.S. aircraft carrier disappearing into a wreath of flames, symbolizing the regime’s long standing obsession with countering the formidable power of U.S. naval forces. 

The long arm of the U.S. Navy has historically been an obvious concern to the North’s military planners, with exercises often revolving around taking on carrier groups using submarines or jet aircraft. 

But these ambitions were clouded by a mix of wishful thinking and unrealistic expectations — not only are carrier groups among the hardest