North Korea Advances Nuclear Sub; Kim Slams South Korea's Similar Push Backed by Trump

• North Korea revealed significant progress on a nuclear-powered submarine, with state media images showing a nearly finished hull inspected by Kim Jong Un.
• Kim Jong Un described the 8,700-tonne class submarine as a "strategic nuclear attack submarine," crucial for modernizing North Korea's navy and strengthening its nuclear deterrent.
• Kim denounced South Korea's efforts to acquire its own nuclear-powered submarine, backed by US President Donald Trump, calling it an "offensive act" violating North Korea's security.
• An expert suggests the largely completed hull indicates core components like the engine and reactor might already be installed, though completion timeline is unclear.
• The submarine is part of Kim's 2021 plan for sophisticated weaponry, contributing to worsening tensions on the Korean Peninsula as Kim dismisses denuclearization talks.

Why It Matters: North Korea's nuclear submarine progress and Kim's strong rhetoric escalate Korean Peninsula tensions.