North Korea Touts New Underwater Nuclear Weapons System

Pyongyang has reportedly made another stride in its nuclear weapons program.

According to the official outlets of the Kim regime on Friday, North Korea tested an underwater nuclear weapons system known as Haeil-5-23 — a response to naval exercises performed by the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

As Newsmax noted, the state-run media Korean Central News Agency called joint military drills by the three countries “a cause of further destabilization of the regional situation” and a “serious threat” to North Korea’s national security.

In a statement, a spokesman for the North Korean defense minister said: “Our army’s underwater nuke-based countering posture is being further rounded off and its various maritime and underwater responsive actions will continue to deter the hostile military maneuvers of the navies of the U.S. and its allies.”

South Korea, meanwhile, spoke out against the North’s weapons tests, declaring that “Our military is thoroughly prepared for North Korea’s provocations under a solid joint defense posture with the United States.” Seoul said there will be “overwhelming” responses if North Korea attempts a direct provocation against the South.

Per North Korean state media, Haeil-5-23 is intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters, triggering an underwater explosion that then causes a large radioactive wave capable of destroying major operational ports and naval strike groups.