North Korea Deploys Its Submarine Fleet

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) stands on the conning tower of a submarine during his inspection of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Naval Unit 167 © KCNA / Reuters

National Post/The Telegraph: More than 50 North Korean subs ‘missing from their bases’ as talks with South seek to avert conflict

Tokyo — South Korea’s military has expressed concern at intelligence reports that indicate that more than 50 North Korean submarines have sortied from their bases.

The sheer number of vessels that have put to sea means it is impossible to track all of the submarines, officials said, even though the boats are largely outdated and technically obsolescent versions produced in the 1960s for the Soviet Union.

Nevertheless, by swamping the South’s maritime defences, the North’s submarines may be able to land infiltration parties on the coast to carry out attacks behind the front line. Alternatively, they may target warships of the South Korean or US navies.

Update #1: N. Korean 'subs out for operations, artillery doubled,' talks with South resume -- RT
Update #2: Koreas resume talks, South says North deploying subs -- Daily Star
Update #3: South Korea slams North over sub deployment -- Gulf Times

WNU Editor: Both sides are still talking .... but even the U.S. and South Korea are preparing for the worse .... Seoul, Washington seek to send B-52 bomber, nuke sub to peninsula (Korea Herald).