Kim Regime Claims Breakthrough in Submarine‑Launched Torpedo Technology

In a statement released on October 17, the North Korean government declared a successful underwater test of its artificial‑intelligence torpedo system, Jam‑2.0. The agency described the event as a "significant achievement" that marks a turning point for the country’s naval modernization programme.

The report highlighted that AI is now used to identify targets and guide the weapon, while upgraded propulsion components increase thrust and overall efficiency. No quantitative data on strike distance, maximum velocity or operational depth were supplied, but officials emphasized that more than 180 related experiments have been logged over the previous five years.

South Korean defence specialists suspect the torpedo employs supercavitation technology, where a bubble of air surrounds the nose section, cutting water resistance and allowing speeds far beyond those of conventional torpedoes. Maintaining precise course control at such speeds, however, remains a complex engineering hurdle.

According to expert commentary, the test could have been designed to demonstrate the capacity to attack South Korea’s major surface combatants with a rapid, AI‑controlled weapon. The North Korean defence establishment has also recently showcased cruise missile launches from a 3,000‑ton submarine and integrated two 5,000‑ton destroyers, Choe Hyun and Kang Kon, into its naval order of battle, signalling an aggressive expansion of maritime firepower.