[AmericanInTokyo]

For comment or additional information.

[2ndDivisionVet]

North Korea can’t build their own subway cars but you expect me to believe that they’re constructing one of the most complex machines on Earth? Pull the other one, it has bells on it.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Ballistic subs”!? Do they have rockets big enough to launch a submarine?

[AmericanInTokyo]

북한 영변 핵과학연구단지 인근에서 지하 시설로 연결되는 것으로 보이는 터널들의 존재가 구체적으로 확인됐다고 미국의 북한전문매체 38노스가 19일(현지시간) 밝혔다. 38노스는 영변 핵단지 인근에서 기존에 알려지지 않았던 지하 시설의 존재가 터널 입구 및 흙더미 모습 등을 통해 이번 새로 확인됐다고 설명했다. 또 이 지하 시설의 용도가 무엇인지는 아직 확실하지 않지만, 추후 사찰팀의 조사 대상이 될 만하다고 지적했다. 38노스는 북한이 영변 핵시설 이외의 우라늄농축시설을 가지고 있을 것으로 전문가들이 오래전부터 의심해왔으며 일부는 지하 시설의 존재를 주장하기도 했다면서, 2013년에는 한 탈북자가 북한 약산동대 등에 지하시설이 있다는 주장을 제기한 적도 있다고 밝혔다. 또 최근에는 중앙일보가 영변핵단지 북동쪽 분강에 지하 고농축f 우라늄 (HEU)시설이 있다고 보도하기도 했지만 구체적으로 증거가 제시되지는 않았다고 지적했다. (Donga Ilbo Daily 20 Sept 2019 source)

[AmericanInTokyo]

A new-type submarine first seen at an on-the-spot guidance by North Korea leader Kim Jong Un last week is believed to be capable of carrying three submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), South Korea’s defense ministry was reported to have said Wednesday. In an assessment shared during a closed-door briefing by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) to members of the National Assembly’s intelligence committee, officials were said to believe the submarine will be deployed soon. “The new North Korean submarine is seen as capable of carrying three SLBMs,” committee chief Lee Hye-hoon told press, in comments carried by local media.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Source: Navy Recognition 1 August 2019

““The new North Korean submarine could be the Sinpo class submarine, also called the Gorae or Pongdae class, a new class of submarine fully produced in North Korea. North Korea has developed only one sea-launched ballistic missile, known as the Bukkeukseong-1 also called Pukkuksong-1 or Pukguksong-1, or Polaris-1. The missile is a two-stage, solid-fuel missile designed to be carried on a single Sinpo-class submarine. The submarine only has one missile tube. North Korea has performed a test-fired with the Bukkeukseong-1 SLBM from near the eastern port city of Sinpo, on August 24, 2016. The missile traveled about 500 kilometers before falling in Japan's air defense identification zone in the Sea of Japan. According to military sources, North Korea Navy is one of the world’s largest submarine fleets, with an estimated fleet from about 64 to 86 submarines. North Korea maintains approximately 40 Sang-O-class coastal submarines (SCC), 20 Romeo-class conventional submarines (SS), 20 Yugo- and Yono-class midget submarines (SSM), and a single diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine (SSB) known as the Gorae-class.”

[Widget Jr]

This is most likely the North Korean Romeo class conversion the DPRK has been working on for years. It is similar to the 1950s diesel electric powered Golf SSBNs. So far North Korea does not have a reliable warhead, or nuclear capable missile, let alone having put the two together.

[TXnMA]

I haven't spotted the construction listed in your article, but I've been keeping an eye on what appears to be DPRK's lone "Gorae"-class Diesel missile boat -- in its own pen at Sinpo -- for quite a while. Its cordinates are:

Latitude: 40.025417°
Longitude: 128.165598°

The screw appears to have been removed, but you can often see the shadow of the sail on the dock, indicating a fairly tall sail...

I've read reports that the vertical launch tube is in the aft end of the sail, but that doesn't sound too practical to me...

TXnMA
  

[txnativegop]

it would only dive once and never resurface.

[free_life]

Closeup of submarine complex.

[zeestephen]

Sub launched nukes?

Why bother with the time and expense?

Just launch drones from cargo ships with a tactical nuke attached.

Flying low and slow, they are very hard to see on radar, and even harder to shoot down, especially in an urban area.

[New Jersey Realist]

Kim is just trying to out-Trump Trump to get a leg up in future negotiations.

[wastedyears]

Deep state CIA.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Crucial]

It would be a logical next step.