North Korea said on Friday that it used an underwater drone to practice a nuclear strike on an enemy seaport, saying threats from the United States and its allies are forcing It must develop diverse means of carrying out nuclear attacks.
The North’s Korean Central News Agency said the drone was launched from the east coast of North Korea on Tuesday. The report said it traveled underwater for more than 59 hours, reaching its target on Thursday afternoon, and its “test warhead” – not an actual nuclear device – exploded underwater. Target is not specified.
The report said the drone dubbed Haeil, or tsunami, was designed to penetrate enemy waters and “generate a large-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater explosion.” to destroy ships and ports. State media released images of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a torpedo-shaped vehicle in a warehouse and a similar vehicle moving and detonating underwater.
There is no independent confirmation that testing took place. South Korea’s military, which normally confirms North Korea’s ballistic missile tests soon after they take place, said it was trying to determine if the report was accurate, “noting the many possibilities “.
Testing an underwater attack drone, let alone capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, would be a first for North Korea.
North Korea has conducted a series of weapons tests in recent months, claiming that some of the missiles it launches can be equipped with nuclear warheads.
On Friday, North Korea issued a statement about the strategic cruise missiles it has developed launched off its east coast on Wednesday. Test warheads on the missiles were detonated in the air to test “nuclear explosion control equipment and detonators”, state media said. Earlier this week, state media reported that a ballistic missile test the country conducted on Sunday also involved detonating a dummy nuclear warhead.
Although North Korea has conducted six underground nuclear tests since 2016, it is unclear whether it has developed the kind of nuclear strike capability that state media often claim. North Korea claims to have nuclear warheads small and light enough to be mounted on drones, as well as on cruise and short-range missiles.
South Korea says it is carefully assessing North Korea’s burgeoning capabilities, which it says Kim’s government often exaggerates.
Kim Dong-yub, an expert on North Korean weapons at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said: “It’s hard to determine how much we can trust North Korea’s claims. . speak of the reported drone test. But it would be wise not to underestimate North Korea, he said, noting that Other countries has been developing various unmanned underwater weapon systems.
North Korea’s report says drones can be towed by a ship and launched at sea, which, if nuclear-capable, would expand the reach of the country’s nuclear arsenal This. North Korea has been trying for years to build a submarine that can launch nuclear missiles far from its shores, but it has yet to deploy.
Kim Jong-un, while observing the weapons tests this week, called them proof that North Korea’s “unlimited” nuclear deterrent is being “enhanced at a faster rate.” “, said state media. He also said that the United States and South Korea must stop “reckless” joint military exercises that North Korea calls rehearsals for an invasion.
The two allies on Thursday concluded an 11-day joint exercise, the largest in years in terms of the number of troops involved. They are also carrying out a separate exercise, involving a mock landing, which will continue until early April.
North Korea’s underwater drone test, if it does take place, was held as a fleet of South Korean and American ships were taking part in amphibious exercises, heading towards Pohang, a port city. on the east coast of Korea. Next week, the US aircraft carrier Nimitz is scheduled to visit the larger port city of Busan.
