 U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarines have been clandestinely tracking North Korean U-boats since the North began to show progress in developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles last year.
The U.S. has apparently been keeping the information from South Korea.
| Someone will have to explain why... |
SLBM attacks would be difficult to detect unless a country's own submarines lie in wait in front of an enemy's submarine bases and ambush them in a crisis.
| In other words, SOP for American attack subs the past sixty years... |
The U.S. has been spying on North Korean submarine bases in Hamnam and Sinpo, according to a source, and will probably step up surveillance after North Korea succeeded in test-firing an SLBM on Wednesday.
Conventional submarines powered by diesel engines cannot conduct missions underwater for more than three to four weeks, but nuclear-powered ones can operate underwater for up to three months at a time.
The U.S. subs are gathering crucial sonar signatures that will help them identify the 2,000-ton submarines that carry SLBMs.
But the U.S. subs are operating on the high seas away from the North's territorial waters to avoid provoking clashes, and North Korea's anti-submarine equipment is too outdated to detect them.
| That's what we're saying. My guess is that our guys are right up on them from the point where the water gets deep... |
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