Submarine Proliferation

South Korea Current Capabilities

Capabilities | Import | Export

South Korea map The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) currently operates a submarine flotilla of nine diesel-electric Chang Bogo-class (Type 209/1200) vessels based at Chinhae. Four Type 214 hybrid diesel-electric/fuel cell AIP vessels are in the process of being build at Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyards under cooperation with Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).

With North Korean submarines posing a significant threat to the ROK's sea lines of communication and frequently intruding into its territorial waters, ROKN submarines can be expected to play a significant role in sea denial to hostile forces and anti-submarine warfare. In addition to the naval aspect of the existing tension on the Korean Peninsula, there are unresolved territorial disputes between Japan and the ROK over the Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima or Tok-do).

Type 214
Displacement, tons:	1,700 surfaced 1,860 submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	213.3 × 20.7 × 19.7 (65 × 6.3 × 6)
Main machinery:	hybrid diesel-electric/fuel cell AIP (9)
Speed, knots:	12 surfaced 20 submerged
Range, miles:	12,000 at 6 knots surfaced; 420 at 8 knots submerged; 1,248 at 4 knots on fuel cells
Complement:	27 (5 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m):	1,300 (400)
Endurance:	50 days
Weapons:	16 SSMs and torpedoes; eight 21" (533 mm) tubes, four of which can launch SSMs

Sources:
"Type 214 Class (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://jfs.janes.com, March 20, 2003.
"Submarine class 214 for Korea," Naval Forces, 2001, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 123-124; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
"U212/214 Attack Submarine, Germany," Naval Technology Web Site, http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/type_212.
"Type 214," Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems online edition, http://juws.janes.com, September 5, 2003.

Chang Bogo (Type 209/1200)
Displacement, tons:	1,100 surfaced 1,285 submerged
Dimensions, ft (m):	183.7 × 20.3 × 18 (56 × 6.2 × 5.5)
Main machinery:	diesel-electric
Speed, knots:	11 surfaced/snorting 22 submerged
Range, miles:	7,500 at 8 knots surfaced
Complement:	33 (6 officers)
Diving depth, ft (m):	820 (250)
Endurance:	50 days
Weapons:	14 torpedoes; eight 21" (533 mm) tubes; 28 mines in lieu of torpedoes

Sources:
"Eye on the Fleet Photo Gallery," Navy Newsstand Web Site, http://www.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=1885.
"Chang Bogo (Type 209) Class (1200) (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://jfs.janes.com, March 20, 2003.

ACTIVE DUTY SUBMARINES
Name (Number)	Class	Base	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned
Chang Bogo (061)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	HDW, Kiel	1989	1992	1993
Yi Chon (062)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1990	1992	1994
Choi Muson (063)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1991	1993	1995
Park Wi (065)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1992	1994	1996
Lee Jongmu (066)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1993	1995	1996
Jung Woon (067)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1994	1996	1997
Lee Sunsin (068)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1995	1998	1999
Na Daeyong (069)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1996	1999	2000
Lee Eokgi (071)	Chang Bogo	Chinhae	Daewoo, Okpo	1997	2000	2001

Sources:
"Chang Bogo (Type 209) Class (1200) (SSK)," Jane's Fighting Ships online edition, http://jfs.janes.com, March 20, 2003.
"SS-209 Class," Global Security.org, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/ss-209.htm.

Sources:
[1] Stephen Saunders, Jane’s Fighting Ships: 2002-2003 (Coulsdon, Jane’s Information Group, 2002), pp. 353-354.
[2] Interview with Captain Ermengildo Ugazzi, Commander Submarine Flotilla, "Submarines today: flotilla commanders comment," Naval Forces, 1999, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 40-46; in ProQuest Information and Learning Company, http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb.
[3] "Strategic Document on Defense in the XXI Century," Italian Ministry of Defense, April 17, 2001; in "Italian Defense Ministry Publishes Strategic Document on Defense in XXI Century," FBIS Document EUP20010419000180.

Additional Sources:
"North Korea Claims South Plans to Produce Nuclear Submarine," WMD Insights, May 2006, http://www.wmdinsights.com/EastAsia/I5_EA2_NorthKoreaClaims.htm.

This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2008 by MIIS.