announced north korea On Saturday, it conducted a new test on a “marched” nuclear submarine, in the latest response to the US-South Korean maneuvers.
“The DPRK’s National Defense Science Research Institute conducted a test of an underwater strategic weapon system between April 4 and 7,” the official North Korean news agency KCNA reported. It added that the Hale-2 guided nuclear submarine conducted an underwater simulation, during which it covered a distance of 1,000 km.
The agency indicated that the weapon “detonated accurately underwater,” pointing out that this test “proves the reliability of the strategic underwater weapon system and its lethal offensive ability.”
On March 23, North Korea announced the first test of this submarine, which it said was capable of launching a nuclear attack that could “cause a large-scale radioactive tsunami” through an underwater explosion.
After a year that saw a record number of weapons tests and growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington strengthened defense cooperation, and held the largest joint military exercises in 5 years, from March 13 to 23, 2023.
Seoul and Washington carried out joint air exercises on April 5, which included at least one US nuclear-capable B-52H bomber, according to the South Korean military.
North Korea regards these exercises as rehearsals for an invasion of its lands, and has repeatedly warned that it will take “crushing” measures in response.