North Korea has launched its first operational tactical nuclear attack submarine, and assigned it to the fleet that patrols the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan, state media said today. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who attended the launch ceremony on Wednesday, said arming the navy with nuclear weapons was an urgent task and promised to transfer more underwater and surface vessels equipped with tactical nuclear weapons to the naval forces, news agency KCNA reported.

The submarine-launching ceremony heralded the beginning of a new chapter for bolstering up the naval force of the North Korea, KCNA said. Achieving a rapid development of our naval forces is a priority that cannot be delayed given the enemies' recent aggressive moves and military acts, the North Korean leader said in a speech, apparently referring to the United States and South Korea.