North Korea is in the process of developing a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Admiral Cecil D. Haney confirmed during testimony to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.

The existence of such a program, suspected for at least the past several months, will definitely pose future complications for the security of Northeast Asia, and potentially the entire Pacific. It may take several years to develop, but a viable SLBM with an effective transport could improve the range, secrecy and flexibility with which North Korea could threaten South Korean, Japanese and American civil and military targets.