Sri Lanka, Dec. 26 -- North Korea on Thursday (25) released new images of what it claims is its first nuclear-powered submarine, a massive vessel equal in size to some of the United States Navy's attack subs.

The pictures released by State media showed leader Kim Jong Un inspecting the guided-missile submarine at an indoor construction facility, indicating it has not yet been launched.

Building a nuclear-powered submarine has been a long-held goal for Kim, who first discussed it at a Ruling Party congress in 2021, but the fact its rival, South Korea, has recently being given the blessing of the Trump administration to pursue its own nuclear-powered subs, appears to have added urgency to Kim's plans.

Such vessels come with many advantag...