Kim Yo Jong’s Fiery Critique of US Attack Submarine Sparks Alarm

North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong has drawn criticism for her heightened response to the recent visit of the USS Vermont (SSN-792), a U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarine, to Busan port.

Reasons for Kim Yo Jong’s extreme reaction

Kim’s’ intense response is curious, given that visits by U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarines to Busan are not unprecedented. The USS Vermont’s’ visit follows the U.S. deployment of intercontinental ballistic missiles in June and stealth strategic bombers on September 18. North Korean officials, including Kim, argue that these actions reveal the full spectrum of U.S. nuclear capabilities, although Vermont, classified as an SSN (attack submarine), does not carry nuclear ballistic missiles like an SSBN (ballistic missile submarine) would.

The USS Vermont, a Virginia-class Block IV submarine commissioned on April 18, 2020, is notable for its advanced technology and role in the Pacific. However, it’s’ not equipped with a markedly different arsenal from previous models. The Virginia class has evolved through several blocks.

Classification, Number of Vessels, Characteristics, Vertical Launch System:

Block I, 4, 10 sections built, 12

Block II, 6, 4 sections built (process improvement), 12

Block III, 8, Large Aperture Bow sonar, new propulsion system, equipped with VPM, 2 VPMs (6 missiles per VPM)

Block IV, 5 (5 additional under construction), Reduced maintenance periods, process improvement, 2 VPMs (6 missiles per VPM)

Each block supports non-nuclear payloads such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and unmanned underwater vehicles. 

Intention of Kim’s excessive reaction 

Despite these capabilities, the North Korean reaction, as articulated by Kim, suggests a deliberate conflation of SSN capabilities with those of more threatening SSBNs, potentially to justify North Korea’s own nuclear ambitions and to frame the U.S. as escalating military tensions.

Moreover, by precisely reporting the submarine’s arrival time down to the second, North Korea aims to underscore its surveillance capabilities, potentially signaling its own military vigilance and technological prowess.