North Korea said it tested an underwater nuclear attack drone in response to a “reckless” and “hostile” joint naval exercise conducted by the United States, South Korea and Japan.
The underwater drone, which North Korea claims is capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, was first tested by the country in 2023.
The system, called Haeil-5-23, was also tested this week in waters off North Korea's east coast, North Korea's KCNA news agency reported, without specifying a date.
It is among a wide range of weapons systems that Pyongyang has demonstrated in recent years as North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un Expands its arsenal of nuclear-capable weapons.
The underwater weapons testing reported this week has not been independently verified.
The South Korean military insisted that North Korea had exaggerated the capabilities of the drone, which was supposedly designed to carry out strikes on enemy ships and ports.
North Korea continues to blame its rivals for stirring up tensions in the region, with the Defense Ministry saying it conducted the test in response to US, South Korean and Japanese naval exercises.
The exercises were conducted for three days and ended in the waters south of Jeju Island on Wednesday.
A North Korean Defense Ministry spokesman accused the three countries of being “dissatisfied” with the military exercises, warning of “disastrous consequences.”
The spokesperson also said in a statement: “Our military’s nuclear-based counter-underwater posture is being rounded off, and various naval and underwater response actions will continue to deter aggressive military maneuvers by the U.S. Navy and its allies.”
“We strongly condemn the United States and its followers for their reckless actions of seriously threatening the security of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since the beginning of the year and strongly warn them of the disastrous consequences that will ensue.”
The South Korean Ministry of Defense later issued a warning and called for a halt to North Korean weapons testing.
“Our military is fully prepared for North Korea's provocations in light of a strong joint defense posture with the United States,” she said in a statement, vowing an “overwhelming” response if North Korea launches a direct provocation.
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Tensions in the region are at their highest levels in years
The alleged drone test came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un canceled his country's long-term goal of peaceful unification with South Korea.
He also said his country would rewrite its constitution to designate South Korea as its most hostile foreign adversary.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached their highest levels in years as North Korea accelerates weapons demonstrations and threatens nuclear conflict.
The United States and its Asian allies were responding by strengthening their joint military exercises.
