New this morning: KCNA says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a newly-built submarine and pointed out its "operational tactical provisions and weapons combat systems.” No description of the weapons systems the submarine contained, or when the inspection…

This follows #NorthKorea’s warning that the US and South Korea need to cancel the Dong Maeng 19-2 exercises scheduled for August because that’s a promise Trump made to Kim during the June 30 summit.

Only one thing left to do, really... https://t.co/I23iA488oA

ICYMI: I’m pretty sure #NorthKorea just gave us our first glimpse at the Korean People’s Navy’s Gorae-successor ballistic missile submarine (SSB), known to the USIC as the Sinpo-C. https://t.co/aEkd3cQiQF

Also significant: this would mark the first Kim inspection of a North Korean military asset designed to carry and launch nuclear weapons since 2017. He’s not disarming, folks.

Also significant: this would mark the first Kim inspection of a North Korean military asset designed to carry and launch nuclear weapons since 2017. He’s not disarming, folks.

Also, Comrades Kim Jong Sik and Jang Chang Ha is in tow for the inspection this time. The rocket men are back.

Also, Comrades Kim Jong Sik and Jang Chang Ha is in tow for the inspection this time. The rocket men are back.

Dropping this image here for your reference. Our first glimpse at the Pukguksong-3 SLBM in August 2017 during KJU’s tour of the Chemical Materials Institute.

What do these pics signal? As always, multiple audiences. But to the US: this is what we mean by denuclearization Donald. ICBMs were for responsiveness and range, SLBMs are for survivability. A real nuclear weapons state. https://t.co/LcrXCFtf6D

Finally: Kim Jong Un has *not made any commitment not to test SLBMs*. They wouldn’t start off testing from this sub, which is very much not ready for sea. Likely, we’d see an underwater pontoon ejection/partial flight/full flight test series.

Reports of another massive #ApagonEnVenezuela At least 15 of the countries 23 states without any electricity again #MaduroRegime is a complete disaster. @NicolasMaduro will NEVER be able to get #Venezuela out of the crisis it faces. #apagonnacional

Finally: Kim Jong Un has *not made any commitment not to test SLBMs*. They wouldn’t start off testing from this sub, which is very much not ready for sea. Likely, we’d see an underwater pontoon ejection/partial flight/full flight test series.

Just in: official English translation of the KCNA release. Please note the appearance of the word “strategic” here, which #NorthKorea has been careful to omit from other military activity-related statements in 2018-2019. (It’s a rather unsubtle euphemism…

“...the submarine was designed and built to be capable of fully implementing the military strategic intention of the Party under various circumstances” — this means it’s designed to carry nuclear-capable ballistic missiles for strategic deterrence.

Two high resolution images released by KCNA of the new submarine. #NorthKorea

The official KCNA announcement of North Korea’s new submarine highlighted its imminent deployment and is littered with the term “strategic”. Based on that saddle size, it takes little imagination to think that means one thing and one thing only: nuclear weapons.

If you’re not a submarine/nuclear deterrence nerd, the one big thing to know about this demonstration is that, for the first time since the February 2018 military parade, North Korea is talking about and showing the world things related to its nuclear capabilities.…

That’s a pretty significant shift after ~18 months of superficial “denuclearization.” Remember last September when they went to the trouble of having a military parade without any nuclear-capable systems or missiles?

Can’t wait to hear Seoul and Washington talk about how North Korea’s new boomer launches “projectiles.”

#DPRK leader Kim Jong Un has "inspected a newly built submarine" and "its operational deployment is near at hand," reports KCNA.