SSC Sang-O Class

While the North Korean submarine force reflects dated technology by Western standards, North Korean submarines during wartime would present significant challenges, particularly in coastal areas. North Korea has placed high priority on submarine construction programs which are ongoing despite its economic hardships. An example of this is the SANGO SSC, a simple submarine constructed in two variants, for use in the covert insertion of Special Operations Forces (SOF), mining or antisurface warfare. The submarine comes in two different variants, one with torpedoe tubes and the second without but with the capability to lay mines.

The Sang-O (Shark) class submarines are used for special forces infiltration into South Korea and have at times been captured by ROK forces. According to Janes Fighting Ships 2002-3 Sang-o class submarines began to be constructed in 1991 at Sinpo and were be constructing at 4-6 a year by 1996. Reports indicate that only three were built in 1997 and it is unclear what was produced in the following years.

Bitter enemies since the outbreak of war in 1950, the two Koreas remain divided by the most heavily guarded border in the world - one the North regularly attempts to penetrate. The 18 September 1996 grounding of a North Korean submarine filled with 25 heavily armed commandos - stunned the South as communist soldiers waded ashore 90 miles northeast of Seoul. Deadly skirmishes followed for two months as the commandos attempted to flee north, with most of the team being killed along with several South Korean soldiers and innocent civilians. The North Korean submarine got stranded on some underwater rocks, forcing the crew to get out and try to return to North Korea. This prompted a deadly manhunt that lasted over a month (25 of the 26 crew members were shot dead and the South Korean casualties, civil and military, tallied 17).

Once inside the submarine one really wonders how 26 people could have fit in such a cramped space – let alone live. Following this incident, North Korea officially apologized and assured that he would do all his best to prevent such a thing from happening again. Two years later another submarine, a much smaller Yugo class, was found entangled in South Korean fishing nets

Unification Park is composed of unification security pavilion. It was opened in September 26, 2001. To display the tanks and field artillery additionally in the outdoor exhibition area in the future, revitalization of local economy can be achieved in connection with the Jeongdongjin Sunrise Resort displaying the artillery of the armed forces fro the first time in the nation. In addition to the pavilion of North Korean submarine moved and displayed in the site in May 1998, the retired warship, Jeonbukham, was lent for free to Gangneung in order to be reused as an education arena of national security culture from the navy. 

Specifications
Displacement: tons submerged, surfaced
Length: 116.5 ft
Beam: 12.5 ft
Draft: 12.1 ft
Propulsion: Diesel electric
Maximum: Speed 7.6 kts surfaced
7.2 kts snorting
8.9 kts submerged
Mines: 16(?)
Torpedoes: 2-4, 21 inch tubes (533mm) [in some]
Russian Type 53-56 torpedoes
Crew: 19 + 6 divers

Source: GlobalSecurity

North Korea Tests New Submarine in Naval Drills

North Korea's 40m long Sango class submarine (photo : Yonhap)

SEOUL, (Yonhap) -- North Korea has strengthened the intensity of its naval drills this year by deploying a new submarine, prompting South Korea's military to raise its level of vigilance, a government source here said Wednesday.

"North Korea is on naval maneuvers near its bases off the East Sea and Yellow Sea by mobilizing five to six submarines, including a new Sango class submarine," the source said on the condition of anonymity.


"Our military is closely monitoring activities of the North Korean military because it is unusual for the North to strengthen the intensity of its submarine drills," the source said.


In addition to its rudimentary 35-meter-long Sango class submarines, the North recently put the new 40-meter-long Sango submarines into service, according to the source.


On Tuesday, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told lawmakers that his military is carefully watching the eastern and western sea borders with North Korea as the North's armed forces have staged seaborne infiltration drills.


Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following the North's two deadly military attacks last year, which killed a total of 50 South Koreans.


The South's military bolstered firepower and surveillance systems near the sea borders with North Korea to counter any possible attacks from the North.

(Yonhap)

Defense Studies