North Korea’s “new” submarine

North Korea has offered the first glimpse of its “new” diesel-electric ballistic missile submarine, or SSB. Official state media shows premier Kim Jong-un inspecting a modified Soviet-era Romeo-class boat


Romeo-class SSB

Length: 76m
Shrouded propellers on each side of hull

Enlarged topside: Supports larger sail for launch tubes

Armament: Six bow-facing 533mm torpedo tubes

Jul 23: Picture shows Kim Jong-un inspecting submarine at Sinpo Shipyard.
Government censors blur out rear portion of sail, suggesting that this is where one or
more tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) are located
 

Pukkuksong-1 (KN-11)
Length: 9.3m
Payload: 650kg
Propulsion: Two-stage, solid propellant
Range: 1,200km

1. Cold launch: Missile expelled from silo by compressed air

2. Solid fuel engine ignites above water


Two to three Pukkuksong-1 missiles

1 2


Sources: The Drive, H.I. Sutton 
Picture: Korean Central News Agency
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