North Korea says it has tested a new nuclear attack submarine 'drone'

2023-03-24T10:37:30.528Z

According to North Korean state media, the new drone aims to create a "radioactive tsunami" capable of destroying enemy ports and ships. An announcement that leaves some...North Korea says it has tested a new nuclear attack submarine 'drone' A South Korean army soldier observes North Korea from the Paju observation post near the border with North Korea, Friday, March 24, 2023. AP - Ahn Young-joon Text by: RFI Follow 2 min According to North Korean state media, the new drone aims to create a "radioactive tsunami" capable of destroying enemy ports and ships. The annou

North Korea says it has tested a new nuclear attack submarine 'drone'

A South Korean army soldier observes North Korea from the Paju observation post near the border with North Korea, Friday, March 24, 2023. AP - Ahn Young-joon

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

According to North Korean state media, the new drone aims to create a "radioactive tsunami" capable of destroying enemy ports and ships. The announcement leaves some experts skeptical and comes a day after the United States and South Korea ended their biggest joint military maneuvers in five years.

Advertising

With our correspondent in Seoul, Nicolas Rocca

Haeil, ("tsunami" in Korean). This is the name of Pyongyang's new weapon. An underwater nuclear attack drone in the darkest secrecy since 2012, which reportedly conducted 29 tests supervised in person by Kim Jong-un. This is what the state media revealed this Friday, March 24. The drone reportedly sailed Thursday, March 23 for more than 59 hours before launching a detonation from the east coast of North Korea.

The North Korean news agency says Haeil's mission is to create a "radioactive tsunami" through an underwater explosion that destroys enemy ships and ports. This "serious warning" to his enemies, according to Kim Jong-un, leaves experts skeptical.

North Korean manipulation?

It is difficult to estimate how operational the program will be in real conditions outside North Korean waters. But this is in line with Pyongyang's latest outings aimed at showing Seoul and Washington that its nuclear arsenal has diversified and that any action against the regime would have disastrous consequences.

On the southern side of the border ended Thursday the largest joint maneuvers since 2017. The U.S. and South Korean militaries have announced that they will hold the largest combined live-fire exercises in June to celebrate 70 years of their alliance, and at the same time the 70th anniversary of the end of the war between the two Koreas.

► Read also: New North Korean launches shortly after the start of the "Freedom Shield" maneuvers in South Korea

North Korea says it has tested a new nuclear attack submarine 'drone'

North Korea says it has tested a new nuclear attack submarine 'drone'

North Korean manipulation?

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest