North Korea is said to be developing a three-thousand-ton submarine. This is what the South Korean Ministry of Defense said.
On Saturday, North Korea launched a ballistic missile from a new submarine from the East Sea. The launch may have been carried out from the 67-meter class platform Sinpo. The latter is expected to have a displacement of 900-1500 tons, although until recently it was believed to have no missile capabilities. Although the ballistic missile only flew thirty kilometers, the North made enormous progress in obtaining the initial ejection technology from a submerged platform. It is therefore plausible to assume that Pyongyang is developing a submarine of at least three thousand tons.
A submarine, such as the Sinpo, of 1000/1500 tons, has the capacity to carry and launch a single missile 10/15 meters below the surface of the water. It is a depth that places the submarine at risk of detection compared to larger platforms. Just to give an example: a class submarine Ohio, could launch its Trident 120 meters deep.
The specifications of the alleged new three thousand-ton submarine are shrouded in mystery, but if it did exist it would be able to carry three missiles and represent a real threat. The displacement would give it a launching capacity placed at 50 meters deep.
