North Korea said Friday it had tested what it said was an underwater nuclear attack drone in response to joint naval exercises between South Korea, the United States and Japan this week, raising tensions in the region. He continues to criticize the country.
The alleged drone test comes days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared he would abandon his country's long-standing goal of peaceful unification with South Korea and amend the constitution to define South Korea as its most hostile foreign enemy. It was done later.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have risen to their highest point in years as Mr. Kim accelerates his weapons testing activities and threatens nuclear conflict.
The United States and its Asian allies are responding by ramping up joint military exercises, which Kim calls invasion rehearsals.
The nuclear attack drone, which North Korea reportedly tested for the first time last year, is one of a wide range of weapons systems demonstrated in recent years as Mr. Kim expands his arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons.
South Korea's military claimed North Korea was exaggerating the capabilities of its drones, which are designed to attack enemy ships and ports.
North Korea's military said it conducted the test in the country's eastern waters in response to joint naval exercises by the United States, South Korea and Japan that concluded Wednesday in waters south of Jeju Island.
North Korea's Defense Ministry said in a statement: “Our military's counterattack posture with underwater nuclear weapons has been further strengthened, and various response actions at sea and underwater continue to deter hostile military actions by the naval forces of the United States and its allies. I will go,” he said.
“We strongly condemn the United States and its supporters for their reckless actions since the beginning of the year that seriously threaten the security of North Korea, and we sternly warn them of the devastating consequences they will bring.” North Korea's initials stated using. The official name of South Korea is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
North Korea has also tested a variety of missile systems in recent months designed to target the United States and its Asian allies, prompting the military to use pre-emptive nuclear strikes if Pyongyang's leadership is threatened. announced escalatory nuclear doctrine allowing for.
North Korea conducted its first ballistic missile test of 2024 on Sunday, with state media saying it could target U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan with a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile with a hypersonic warhead on its tip. Reported to be highly sexual.
At an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, South Korea called on the council to “break its silence” on North Korea's escalating missile tests and threats.
Russia and China, permanent members of the Security Council, have blocked a U.S.-led effort to tighten sanctions on North Korea over its recent nuclear testing activities, highlighting deepening rifts over Russia's war with Ukraine. There is. The term of office for Korean council members is two years.
