Alarm After North Korean Submarine Missile Launch

There are claims that the North Koreans could have a submarine-launched ballistic missile capability within five years.

It follows an announcement from Pyongyang that the Communist state had successfully test-fired such a weapon over the weekend.

Watched by Kim Jong-Un, photos published by the regime of the operation are believed to be authentic. 

The exact status of North Korea's submarine and nuclear programmes remain shrouded in secrecy although both South Korea and the US believe them to be enough of a threat to have started talks about creating a missile-defence shield. 

Some analysts estimate that North Korea may already possess as many as 10 nuclear warheads that could be fitted to missiles with ranges able to threaten the likes of Japan. 

Defence officials in neighbouring Seoul branded the missile launch "very serious and concerning", adding that the South Korean government will respond "mercilessly" to the threat. 

The North Korean Navy is thought to operate a fleet of around 20 ageing Romeo class diesel submarines, imported from China between 1973 and 1995. One is alleged to have sank in an accident in 1985. 

It also possesses a small number of Soviet-era Whiskey class boats, the only Navy to still have such vessels in active service. 

However in 2014 satellite images identified a newly built submarine, possibly based on an old Yugoslavian model. At 67 metres in length it's the largest-ever submarine built by the regime and could herald the start of a bigger modernisation programme.