North Korea’s Nuke Torpedo-Drones Can Level Coastal Cities

ANALYSIS – As North Korea continues its mad dash to become a regional nuclear power, it is now following the Russian example and building nuclear-armed drone torpedoes to strike coastal cities.

Similar in type to Russia’s fearsome Poseidon autonomous nuclear torpedo and officially designated as the Haeil-2 unmanned underwater nuclear attack boat, these huge drone-torpedoes were first publicly displayed at North Korea’s latest military parade in late July. (RELATED: US Soldier Laughed While Defecting To North Korea: Report)

The Drive has done some excellent reporting on this new weapon.

Some have also referred to it as a ‘nuclear attack drone,’ ‘uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV),’ or ‘long-range/long-endurance nuclear torpedo.’

H. I. Sutton, a submarine expert, described it as “more like a long-ranged nuclear-armed (potentially!) torpedo. Or rather, a torpedo with uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) characteristics.”

According to 19FortyFive:

U.S. officials believe that since 2021, North Korea has conducted more than 50 test launches involving its underwater drone. In 2022, state media also claimed that the Haeil drones achieved full operational capabilities.

While large, the Korean weapon is significantly smaller than the 65-foot long and 6.5-foot diameter Russian Poseidon. Some naval experts also distinguish between the Haeil-1 and the smaller Haeil-2.

Similar to the Poseidon, the Haeil apparently has a pump-jet propulsor at the rear.

And while both the Russian and North Korean weapons are designed to carry nuclear warheads, capable of creating a “radioactive tsunami,” only the Russian torpedo is nuclear powered.

The Haeil is likely battery-powered. That is a significant difference, with the Russian weapon having an almost unlimited range but not as important considering North Korea’s targets and ranges.

Its size suggests it will have a range in excess of the 540 nautical miles attributed to it.

As The Drive noted, “even if it [Haeil] were to loiter for some period before attacking, are vastly less than what Poseidon was built to overcome.”

This nuke torpedo will only escalate the arms race with the South, paused briefly by the North during the term of President Donald Trump.

Another difference? The North Koreans don’t have a submarine large enough to carry this new weapon, so they will need to improvise.

As The Drive explains:

…the Russian weapon is designed to be launched by the shadowy Project 09852 Belgorod submarine — the world’s longest — while North Korea doesn’t operate any submarine large enough to serve as a mother ship. This suggests that the underwater drone would have to be launched from a dockside pier or jetty, some kind of floating platform, or perhaps a suitably modified surface vessel.

 I’ve written about Russia’s ‘doomsday” submarine and Poseidon missile here. (RELATED: America Needs More And Better Nukes)

But it’s also worth noting that Pyongyang seems to be struggling to field a workable Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile  (SLBM), similarly hampered by the lack of a suitable submarine to launch it from.

Underwater drones may be seen by the North as a more practical and achievable alternative to SLBMs. So, it can be seen as the North’s alternative SLBM for a second-strike capability.

It could also be used, notes The Drive, “to deliver a knockout blow to elements of South Korea’s expanding naval fleet before they get a chance to go to sea.”

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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