North Korea has tested an underwater nuclear weapon system in protest at joint military drills by South Korea, the United States and Japan this week, state media KCNA reported on Friday.
The test of the Haeil-5-23 system, a nuclear-armed underwater attack drone, was conducted by a defence ministry think tank in waters off the country’s east coast, the report said, but did not specify a date.
The navies of the three countries were holding their three-day regular exercise until Wednesday alongside the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson as part of efforts to improve their responses to Pyongyang’s evolving 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 US and its allies.”
North Korean state television has broadcast previous atmospheric blast tests monitored by US and South Korean authorities, but the underwater weapon report has not been independently confirmed.
The new unmanned system “Haeil”, which means “tsunami”, was first tested in March 2023. State media said it was designed to stealthily attack in enemy waters and destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports by creating a large radioactive wave through an underwater explosion.
The latest report of the underwater test came days after North Korea launched a new solid-propellant medium-range hypersonic missile, which Washington, Seoul and Tokyo viewed as a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
