During the inspection, Kim denounced Seoul’s efforts to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine as an “offensive act” that threatens North Korea’s security and maritime sovereignty. Those efforts have drawn public backing from President Donald Trump, a point Kim cited as further justification for accelerating his own naval nuclear ambitions. He portrayed the submarine project as an “epoch-making” step in strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrent.

Kim argued that Seoul’s plans only reinforced the urgency of expanding and nuclear-arming North Korea’s naval forces, and said finishing the nuclear-powered submarine would mark a turning point in bolstering the country’s nuclear deterrent against what he described as hostile threats.

The state news agency did not specify when the visit occurred but released photos showing Kim walking alongside senior officials and his daughter inside a cavernous assembly hall. The images depict a massive, burgundy-colored hull coated in what appears to be anti-corrosion paint, marking the first time state media has shown the vessel largely intact since March, when coverage focused mainly on lower sections.

The apparent completeness of the hull suggests the submarine could be further along than previously believed, said Moon Keun-sik, a professor at Hanyang University and former South Korean submarine officer, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Because submarines are typically built from the inside out, he said, the images imply that major components such as the engine and possibly the reactor may already be installed, raising the possibility of sea trials within months.

A nuclear-powered submarine was among a slate of advanced weapons Kim pledged to develop at a 2021 party conference, alongside solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, reconnaissance satellites, and multiple-warhead missiles. Since then, North Korea has conducted frequent tests and recently unveiled a new naval destroyer that Kim said would expand the reach and preemptive strike options of the country’s nuclear forces.

South Korea, for its part, has been exploring the option amid rising regional tensions. At a November summit, South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung sought U.S. support for developing a nuclear-powered submarine, while pledging higher defense spending. Trump later said that Washington was open to sharing closely held technology, though details regarding construction, fuel supply, and reactor access remain unclear.

TRUMP OPEN TO MEETING WITH KIM JONG UN, ASKS MEDIA TO ‘PUT OUT THE WORD’

The latest displays of military development come as Pyongyang deepens its alignment with Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. North Korea has sent thousands of troops, along with artillery shells, missiles, and rocket systems, to support Russian operations, primarily in the Kursk region, according to South Korean and Western intelligence estimates. Seoul says roughly 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more wounded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently praised what he called the “heroic” efforts of North Korean forces in Kursk, saying they demonstrated the “invincible friendship” and “militant fraternity” between Moscow and Pyongyang under a treaty signed last year that includes a mutual defense clause. North Korea acknowledged this month that some of its troops deployed to Kursk had died while carrying out mine-clearing operations.