North Korea carries out ‘underwater nuclear weapons system’ test
North Korea says it has carried out a test of its “underwater nuclear weapons system” in response to drills by the US, South Korea and Japan this week.
The test of its supposedly nuclear-armed underwater drones took place off its east coast, state media reported.
Tests of its “Haeil-5-23” system before but the weapons have never been independently verified, the North has claimed.
South Korea and allies have yet to respond to the latest provocation.
But it comes as the North has ramped up military action in recent weeks, including claiming to have deployed a new solid-fuelled intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday.
According to a report by state agency KCNA, on Friday, North Korea said it had been provoked by joint drills by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo to carry out a test of its underwater weapons.
Source: BBC, January 19, 2024
