Military experts concerned by North Korea claims of nuclear-capable underwater drone

Record ID: 1717124

  • Title: Military experts concerned by North Korea claims of nuclear-capable underwater drone
  • Date: 24th March 2023
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (MARCH 24, 2023) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH KOREAN STUDIES, KIM DONG YUB, TALKING ABOUT PHOTOS OF THE NORTH'S LATEST WEAPON TEST (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH KOREAN STUDIES, KIM DONG YUB, SAYING: “The distance makes it capable of attacking almost any port in South Korea where the U.S. army is located even if it (the nuclear underwater drone) is launched from any port in North Korea. But it’s not just that. The North said it could be carried by ships. If it’s carried by a ship camouflaged as a merchant ship, it can hit Japan’s Yokosuka port, where the U.S. army is at, or even further, like Guam, which is very worrisome.”
  • Embargoed: 7th April 2023 10:30
  • Keywords: Kim Jong Un North Korea analysts missiles nuclear underwater drone test weapons
  • Location: SEOUL, DAEGU, BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA/ UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, NORTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, DAEGU, BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA/ UNIDENTIFIED LOCATIONS, NORTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA002989624032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: North Korea’s latest claims that it has tested a new nuclear-capable underwater attack drone are "very worrisome", military experts on Friday (March 24).
    “The distance makes it capable of attacking almost any port in South Korea where the U.S. army is located even if it (the nuclear underwater drone) is launched from any port in North Korea,” said Kim Dong Yub, assistant professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
    “But it’s not just that. The North said it could be carried by ships. If it’s carried by a ship camouflaged as a merchant ship, it can hit Japan’s Yokosuka port, where the U.S. army is at or even further, like Guam, which is very worrisome.”
    According to state news agency KCNA, the new North Korean drone cruised underwater at a depth of 80 to 150 metres (260-500 feet) for over 59 hours during the test and detonated a non-nuclear payload in waters off its east coast on Thursday (March 23).
    Dubbed "Haeil," or tsunami, the new drone system is intended to make sneak attacks in enemy waters and destroy naval strike groups and major operational ports by creating a large radioactive wave through an underwater explosion, said KCNA.
    Analysts say North Korea is showing off its increasingly diverse nuclear threats to Washington and Seoul, though they are sceptical about whether the underwater vehicle is ready for deployment, Kim said
    the North’s claims should be underestimated.
    “North Korea had planned this 11 years ago and conducted secret tests about 50 times over two years,” said Kim. “I would say the weapon system should be pretty solid.”
    The latest tests took place as South Korean and U.S. troops launched their largest amphibious landing drills in years, dubbed Ssangyong Exercise, involving a U.S. amphibious assault ship, on Monday (March 20).
    A South Korean military official said they were analysing North Korea's claims. A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said there was no indication of a nuclear test.
    North Korea also said it had fired cruise missiles on Wednesday (March 22) to practise carrying out tactical nuclear attacks, confirming earlier reports from the South Korean military.
    The cruise missiles were tipped with a "test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead," and flew 1,500-1,800 km (930-1,120 miles), according to KCNA.
    “When you watch the video of the cruise missiles flying unveiled by North Korea, you can see the missiles having perfect terrain avoidance capability. In the video, the missile was flying up the mountain as if it was brushing it, which shows the North is very confident in its cruise missile technology,” said Shin Jong Woo, a researcher at Korea Defence Security Forum, based in Daegu.
    The director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said on Wednesday that North Korean leader Kim does not appear poised to carry out a nuclear test during the U.S.-South Korea military exercises, but the United States is staying vigilant.
    ( Production: Daewoung Kim, Heejung Jung)
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