North Korea says it has tested an underwater nuclear attack drone in response to a “reckless” and “hostile” combined naval exercise by the US, South Korea and Japan.
The underwater drone, which North Korea claims can carry a nuclear weapon, was first tested by the country in 2023.
The system, named Haeil-5-23, was also tested this week in waters off North Korea’s east coast, state media KCNA has reported, without specifying a date.
It is among a broad range of weapon systems Pyongyang has demonstrated in recent years as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expands his arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons.
The reported underwater weapons test this week has not been independently verified.
South Korea’s military has insisted North Korea has exaggerated the capabilities of the drone, which is supposedly designed to carry out strikes on enemy vessels and ports.
North Korea continues to blame its rivals for raising tensions in the region, with the defence ministry saying it conducted the test in response to the US, South Korean, and Japanese naval drills.
The drills were carried out for three days and ended in waters south of Jeju island on Wednesday.
A North Korean defence ministry spokesman accused the three countries of “getting frantic” with military exercises, warning of “catastrophic consequences”.
The spokesman also 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 US and its allies.
“We strongly denounce the US and its followers for their reckless acts of seriously threatening the security of the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) from the outset of the year and sternly warn them of the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by them.”
South Korea’s defence ministry later issued a warning and called for a halt of North Korea’s weapons tests.
“Our military is thoroughly prepared for North Korea’s provocations under a solid joint defence posture with the United States,” it said in a statement, vowing “overwhelming” responses if North Korea stages a direct provocation.
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Tensions in the region at highest point in years
The alleged drone test came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scrapped his country’s long-standing goal of a peaceful unification with South Korea.
He also said his country will rewrite its constitution to define South Korea as its most hostile foreign adversary.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years with North Korea accelerating weapons demonstrations and threatening nuclear conflict.
The US and its Asian allies have been responding by strengthening their combined military exercises.