North Korea Tests Underwater Nuclear Weapon System
North Korea Tests Underwater Drones Allegedly Supporting Nuclear Weapons
North Korean state media has reported that the test of underwater drones supporting nuclear weapons was conducted off the east coast. This is a new and concerning development, as the weapons were not confirmed in previous tests of the “Haeil-5-23” system. South Korea and its allies have yet to respond to this latest provocation.
The test of the “Haeil-5-23” system coincided with a period of escalated military action by North Korea. The country claimed to have deployed a new solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile in an undisclosed location and followed this with real-time firing exercises at the South Korean maritime border in the first week of January.
In addition to the military actions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s policy rhetoric has become increasingly aggressive, with the termination of many peacekeeping agreements in recent months.
According to a report by state agency KCNA, the North Korean state was provoked to test underwater weapons as a result of joint drills by Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo. These exercises were accused of further destabilizing the regional situation and threatening the security of the North. Kim Jong Un’s regime has stated that they have built up a military arsenal in preparation for a war that “could break out at any time” in the region.
In a significant shift, the North Korean leader declared the end of his former main goal of unification with South Korea, defining the South as the “main enemy”. This comes after last September’s announcement by North Korea that they had the first submarine capable of launching nuclear weapons.
The “Haeil” system, a nuclear-armed underwater drone, has been tested since March 2023. Little is known about these weapons and their performance, but North Korean media claims they can sneak into enemy waters and cause large explosions underwater.
The international community will be closely monitoring the situation and assessing the implications of North Korea’s latest actions and rhetoric.
