North Korea Test Underwater Nuclear Weapons:
North Korea tests submarine nuclear drone in protest of joint military drills by South Korea, the United States, and Japan, as per state media KCNA.
The test involved the “Haeil-5-23” system, North Korea‘s nuclear-capable underwater attack drones. The defense ministry’s think tank conducted the test in waters off the east coast, with no specific date mentioned in the report.
US Getting Frantic:
The unnamed ministry’s spokesperson accused the United States, South Korea, and Japan of growing agitation with military exercises. The spokesperson warned of “catastrophic consequences.”
The navies of the three countries conducted a three-day regular drill until Wednesday, involving the U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, to enhance responses to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
North Korea Reaction to US
The North Korean spokesman stated their army strengthens its underwater nuclear posture to counter hostile U.S. and allied maneuvers.
The reported underwater weapon, “Haeil,” unverified, was first mentioned in March 2023. It aims to execute sneak attacks, destroying naval groups and ports with a large radioactive wave from an underwater explosion.
The recent underwater test follows North Korea’s launch of a condemned intermediate-range, solid-fuel hypersonic missile. Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo criticize it as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The three allies’ nuclear envoys gathered in Seoul to condemn North Korea’s arms trade with Russia and its increasingly hostile rhetoric.
North Korea’s foreign minister visited Moscow, meeting President Vladimir Putin amid escalating tensions
.