Pyongyang vows to discourage ‘hostile army maneuvers’ after naval workouts between the US, South Korea and Japan.
North Korea has examined a nuclear-capable underwater assault drone in response to joint naval workouts involving South Korea, the USA and Japan, state media stated.
Pyongyang examined the ‘Haeil-5-23’ in waters off its east coast as a result of the US and its allies “significantly threatened the safety” of the nation and “destabilized the regional state of affairs”, North Korea’s Protection Ministry stated in a press release. the nation. Korean Central Information Company (KCNA) Friday.
“Our army’s nuclear-based underwater countermeasures posture continues to be finalized and the assorted maritime and underwater response actions will proceed to discourage hostile army maneuvers by the US navies and their allies,” the assertion stated, warning of “catastrophic penalties.” ‘ for the US and its ‘minions’.
North Korea claimed to have examined the drone twice final yr and touted its potential to launch sneak assaults and destroy enemies with a “radioactive tsunami” generated by an underwater explosion.
The weapon’s operation has not been independently verified and South Korean officers have stated its capabilities have been exaggerated.
Washington, Seoul and Tokyo carried out joint naval workouts earlier this week involving 9 warships, together with the plane provider USS Carl Vinson, off the southern coast of South Korea.
The allies introduced the drills after Pyongyang stated on Sunday it had examined a brand new solid-fuel missile with a hypersonic warhead.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have elevated in current months attributable to Pyongyang’s repeated weapons exams and strikes by authoritarian chief Kim Jong Un to roll again efforts at reconciliation with South Korea.
On Tuesday, state media reported that Kim had ordered the closure of a number of authorities businesses devoted to inter-Korean rapprochement after figuring out that reunification was now not potential.
On Thursday, nuclear envoys from the US, South Korea and Japan met in Seoul to sentence Pyongyang’s weapons exams and arms commerce with Russia.
