North Korea tests another nuclear-capable underwater drone

This undated picture taken between March 25, 2023 and March 27, 2023 and released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 28, 2023 shows a test of the underwater nuclear strategic attack weapon system “Haeil” at an unknown location in North Korea. (Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP)  

SEOUL  – North Korea conducted another test of a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, state media said on Saturday, the latest in a show of force against the U.S. and South Korea.

The country tested another kind of a nuclear-capable unmanned underwater attack weapon called “Haeil-2”, over a week after it disclosed a new underwater drone system dubbed “Haeil-1”, which translates to tsunami in Korean, designed to make sneak attacks in enemy waters.

Analysts say North Korea is displaying its diverse nuclear delivery capabilities against Washington and Seoul, though they are sceptical whether the underwater vehicle is ready for deployment.

During the underwater strategic weapon system test from April 4 to April 7, state media KCNA said that the drone cruised 1,000 km (621.37 miles)of underwater distance for 71 hours and 6 minutes and successfully hit a simulated target.

“The test perfectly proved the reliability of the underwater strategic weapon system and its fatal attack ability,” KCNA said.

North Korea has ramped up its military activities in recent weeks, protesting that the United States and South Korea conduct joint military exercises.

It unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads and fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.

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