By Brad Lendon, Gawon Bae, CNN

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — North Korea on Thursday 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 advantages. They can stay submerged for long periods of time – essentially for years, if they can carry enough provisions for the crew – whereas most conventionally powered subs must surface for air to run diesel engines, which in turn charge their batteries for running at depth.

They are also generally faster than conventionally powered subs and are in many cases quieter. Currently only the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and India possess the technology.

The images released Thursday show substantial progress had been made on the sub, the existence of which was first announced in March.

State media said the vessel had a displacement of 8,700 tons, making it an equal to most of the nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack subs in the US fleet.

On Thursday, Kim again stressed its importance of the vessels to Pyongyang’s defense policy, which he said was “literally… based on the strongest offensive power,” according to a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report.

“We regard the super-powerful offensive capability as the best shield for national security in developing the armed forces,” KCNA reported Kim as saying.

Noting the US support, Kim said South Korea building a nuclear-powered submarine was an action that violated North Korean security and was a threat that needed to be countered, the report said.

But Pyongyang itself is responsible for heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

Kim “is probably right that a buildup of nuclear-powered submarines will increase instability around the Korean Peninsula, but he has himself to blame for the arms race,” Easley said.

“It is Pyongyang that disavows diplomacy with Seoul, threatens its neighbors with nuclear weapons, and deepens the suffering of its own people by devoting massive resources to military dictatorship rather than economic development,” he said.

Kim has been overseeing a large buildup in his country’s military capabilities as part of that five-year plan unveiled in 2021.

Those include a range of missiles, including ballistic missiles that can reach the US mainland, hypersonic glide vehicles that could be difficult to defend against, and, at sea, two new guided-missile destroyers.

The second of those made headlines earlier this year when it capsized on launch. The warship was subsequently refloated and apparently repaired.

The build of the destroyers and nuclear submarines marked “a leap forward in bolstering up the combat capabilities of our fleets,” Kim said while inspecting the new sub, according to KCNA.

But, even so, Easley notes North Korea’s fleet remains inferior to the South’s, which boasts some of the world’s best

CNN

By Brad Lendon, Gawon Bae, CNN

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — North Korea on Thursday 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 advantages. They can stay submerged for long periods of time – essentially for years, if they can carry enough provisions for the crew – whereas most conventionally powered subs must surface for air to run diesel engines, which in turn charge their batteries for running at depth.

They are also generally faster than conventionally powered subs and are in many cases quieter. Currently only the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and India possess the technology.

The images released Thursday show substantial progress had been made on the sub, the existence of which was first announced in March.

State media said the vessel had a displacement of 8,700 tons, making it an equal to most of the nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack subs in the US fleet.

On Thursday, Kim again stressed its importance of the vessels to Pyongyang’s defense policy, which he said was “literally… based on the strongest offensive power,” according to a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report.

“We regard the super-powerful offensive capability as the best shield for national security in developing the armed forces,” KCNA reported Kim as saying.

Noting the US support, Kim said South Korea building a nuclear-powered submarine was an action that violated North Korean security and was a threat that needed to be countered, the report said.

But Pyongyang itself is responsible for heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

Kim “is probably right that a buildup of nuclear-powered submarines will increase instability around the Korean Peninsula, but he has himself to blame for the arms race,” Easley said.

“It is Pyongyang that disavows diplomacy with Seoul, threatens its neighbors with nuclear weapons, and deepens the suffering of its own people by devoting massive resources to military dictatorship rather than economic development,” he said.

Kim has been overseeing a large buildup in his country’s military capabilities as part of that five-year plan unveiled in 2021.

Those include a range

By Lucas Lilieholm, Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN

(CNN) — Thirteen European countries and Japan have condemned Israel’s decision earlier in the month to approve 19 new Jewish settlements in the Occupied West Bank saying the move harmed the prospects for long term peace and security in the region.

“Such unilateral actions, as part of a wider intensification of the settlement policies in the West Bank, not only violate international law but also risk fueling instability,” they said in a joint statement.

The Israeli cabinet approved the legalization and establishment of 19 settler outposts on December 11, according to an Israeli source familiar with the matter. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, himself a settler, announced the move in a social media post on Sunday.

The decision authorizes 19 outposts across the West Bank, including two that were evacuated in the 2005 disengagement plan, and it comes at a time when Israeli settler violence there towards Palestinians has surged.

Wednesday’s joint statement was issued by the states of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom.

“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the Two-State solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders,” the statement added.

Israel’s Foreign Minister rejected the statement, asserting Jewish people have the right to establish a national homeland extending over the entire territory of “Mandatory Palestine.”

“Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel,” he said in a post on X.

The West Bank, which lies west of the Jordan River between Israel and Jordan, has been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967 and is home to more than 3.3 million Palestinians.

Israeli leaders have become ever more explicit in their rejection of a future Palestinian state in the leadup to and since the October 7 Hamas attack, despite international calls for a negotiated solution to the decades-long occupation.

“We are blocking on the ground the establishment of a Palestinian terror state. We will continue to develop, build, and settle in the land of our forefathers’ inheritance, with faith in the justice of our path,” Smotrich said in his statement announcing the settlement expansion.

Surging settler attacks on Palestinians

Israeli settlements overall are considered illegal under international law. Outposts, in addition to being illegal under international law, are also illegal under Israeli law.

Settlers establish outposts with the goal of receiving authorization for the illegal buildings in the future. Many of the newly authorized settlements are deep within the West Bank.

In May, Israel announced it would establish 22 new settlements in what Israeli settlement watchdog organization Peace Now said was the largest expansion of settlements in more than 30 years.

Israel’s current right-wing government has established dozens since its term began in 2023, marking a dramatic acceleration and expansion of settlement activity.

At the same time, Israel has also been conducting Read more

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - There's been some changes for Christmas week at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara.

The live animals for the creche at the  mission this year will not be brought out.

It is usually a couple of donkeys and some sheep, which makes it popular with visitors and parishioners.

The mission staff says this year, there is a safety concern for the volunteers who watch over the site during the holidays.

This comes as the area is dealing with a series of rain storms and strong winds.

The 4:00 p.m. Christmas eve outdoor mass was also moved into the church due to the weather.

The post Animals Get the Christmas Season Off at the Santa Barbara Old Mission Due to Weather appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - There's been some changes for Christmas week at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara.

    The live animals for the creche at the  mission this year will not be brought out. 

    It is usually a couple of donkeys and some sheep, which makes it popular with visitors and parishioners.

    The mission staff says this year there is a safety concern for the volunteers who watch over the site during the holidays.

     This comes as the area is dealing with a series of rain storms and strong winds.

.     The 4:00 p.m. Christmas eve outdoor mass was also moved into the church due to the weather.

The post Animals Get the Christmas Season Off at the Santa Barbara Old Mission Due to Weather appeared first on News Channel 3-12.