DPRK announces test of underwater nuclear weapons system
19 January 2024 20:16
On Friday, 19 January, North Korea said it had tested an underwater nuclear weapons system in response to the latest joint naval exercises involving South Korea, the United States and Japan. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap with reference to 
.
The DPRK Ministry of Defence said that the country had tested the Haeil-5-23 system in the East Sea, condemning this week’s naval exercises involving a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as “hysteria of reckless confrontation”.
The DPRK did not disclose details, including the characteristics of the weapon and the date of the test.
In response, South Korea condemned the DPRK’s alleged weapons test as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a provocative act that threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and around the world.
“As part of the strong unified defence of South Korea and the United States, our military remains fully prepared against North Korea’s provocations and will respond decisively if North Korea launches a direct provocation against South Korea,” the South Korean Defence Ministry said in a statement.
South Korea, the United States and Japan jointly conducted naval exercises involving the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson from Monday to Wednesday after Pyongyang’s latest hypersonic missile launch. Pyongyang, in turn, has long condemned the joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington as a rehearsal for an invasion.
In March last year, North Korea for the first time unveiled a test of its Haeil-1 underwater attack drone, claiming that its “secret weapon” is capable of generating a “radioactive tsunami” and attacking enemies unseen. In April, the country tested a Haeil-2 strike drone. The Haeil-5-23 may be another modification of the DPRK’s underwater drone.
