Reality of "North Korea claims it Tested 'Underwater Nuclear Weapon System"

Defense News ,North Korea :- In response to joint naval exercises by South Korea, the United States, and Japan, North Korea announced that it conducted tests of the Haeil-5-23, according to a statement from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday. The North Korean Ministry of Defence stated that the testing took place in waters off the east coast, citing concerns about the perceived threat to the country's security and the destabilization of the regional situation by the US and its allies.

The statement highlighted the ongoing development of North Korea's underwater nuclear defense capabilities and emphasized that various maritime and underwater actions would continue to deter what they described as hostile military maneuvers by the navies of the US and its allies. The warning in the statement hinted at potential "catastrophic consequences" for the US and its allies.

North Korea had previously claimed to test a drone with capabilities for sneak attacks and the potential to cause a "radioactive tsunami" through an underwater explosion. However, the operation of this weapon lacks independent verification, and South Korean officials have expressed skepticism, suggesting that its capabilities may be exaggerated.

This week, joint naval drills were conducted by Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo involving nine warships, including the USS Carl Vinson, off South Korea's south coast. The drills were initiated following North Korea's testing of a solid-fuel missile with a hypersonic warhead.

Details about the tested drone remain limited, and analysts, such as Mason Richey, a professor in Seoul, suggest that its likely slowness and vulnerability to anti-submarine warfare indicate its value may be more in political signaling than practical military use. Richey emphasized that North Korea's actions indicate its intent to continue developing its nuclear arsenal amid escalating tensions.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have heightened due to Pyongyang's weapons tests, leading to the closure of inter-Korean reconciliation bodies. In a recent policy address, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un further strained relations by stating that South Korea would be considered a foreign state and the top enemy, to be subjugated in a potential nuclear war on the peninsula.