(NewsNation) — Yes, North Korea recently unveiled photographs of what officials there claim is a nuclear-powered submarine in the final stages of construction.
But a former CIA officer says that doesn’t mean the pictures are real or that they haven’t been doctored.
“It is from North Korean state media, which does have a history, obviously, of altering photos to make themselves look better — that’s just what they do,” Tracy Walder, NewsNation national security contributor, said Sunday. “They do not allow independent journalists to come in and verify these claims.”
The images that surfaced last week show a massive, burgundy-colored hull that dwarfs human observers. Walder, who worked for the CIA and FBI, says there’s no indication of what inside.
“My guess is they wouldn’t publish a picture like this if they didn’t have some plans underway or some semblance of plans underway,” she said. “Now, is this thing operational? Absolutely not.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seen in the images inspecting the submarine, which he called necessary to protect his country’s sovereignty. He criticized South Korea’s efforts to acquire similar capabilities.
The prospect of North Korea launching a vessel capable of firing nuclear weapons is bad news for the United States and its allies in the region, Walder said. The announcement comes as China, another U.S. adversary, is ramping up its naval capabilities, she said.
“They have grown exponentially,” she said.