SEOUL: In retaliation for joint military drills this week between South Korea, the US, and Japan, North Korea tested its submarine nuclear weapons system, state broadcaster KCNA reported on Friday.
The article stated that the defense ministry’s think tank tested the “Haeil-5-23” system, which is the moniker North Korea gave to its nuclear-capable underwater attack drones, in the waters off its east coast, but it did not indicate when the test was conducted.
A spokesperson for the ministry, who wished to remain anonymous, charged that military drills by the US, South Korea, and Japan were “getting frantic” and threatened “catastrophic consequences.”
Alongside the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, the three nations’ navies conducted their routine three-day drills till Wednesday in an attempt to strengthen their ability to counter Pyongyang’s increasing nuclear and missile threats.
The North Korean ministry spokesman said in a statement, “Our army’s underwater nuke-based countering posture is being further rounded off and its various maritime and underwater responsive actions will continue to deter the hostile military manoeuvres of the navies of the U.S. and its allies,” as reported by KCNA.
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Although U.S. and South Korean authorities have watched North Korean state television broadcast past atmospheric explosion tests, there has been no independent verification of the alleged submerged weapon.
The new drone system, called “Haeil,” which translates to “tsunami,” was purportedly tested for the first time in March 2023. According to state media, its goal was to launch surprise attacks in enemy waters, destroy naval strike groups, and destroy major operational ports by detonating an underwater explosion that would produce a massive radioactive wave.
