North Korea develops own ballistic missile-carrying submarine

North Korea has reportedly developed its own submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles.

According to News.com.au, South Korean government sources were reported in local media as saying a previously unseen submarine spotted in North Korean waters in recent weeks had now been identified.

The country is said to have imported a Soviet-era Golf-class diesel submarine and modified it to carry an R-21 model submarine ballistic missile (SLBM), with a maximum range of about 1400km, Yonhap news agency quoted a government source as saying.

Meanwhile, the US-Korea Institute, a strategic think-tank on North-South Korean relations stated that a ground test facility for the SLBM launch is up and running at the Sinpo South shipyard.

The institute however added that North Korea's submarine threat should not be exaggerated despite being potentially real because the diesel-powered submarine would probably require considerable testing and modification to perfect the technology.