North Korea announced on Friday that it had conducted a successful test of its underwater nuclear-capable drone, the Haeil, in response to naval exercises carried out by the United States, South Korea, and Japan. The latest move by North Korea heightens tensions in the region, as the country responds to what it perceives as “frantic” and “provocative” military maneuvers by its adversaries.
According to North Korean state media, the test took place in waters off the southern end of the peninsula. While the media did not provide evidence of the test’s success, it warned the US, South Korea, and Japan of “catastrophic consequences” resulting from their actions.
The US-led trilateral naval exercises, featuring the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, Japanese helicopter carrier JS Hyūga, and guided-missile-equipped surface ships, were designed to enhance deterrence and response capabilities to North Korea’s nuclear, missile, and underwater threats, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
North Korea criticized the exercises, labeling them as a serious threat to its security and contributing to regional destabilization. The Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) report accused the US, Japan, and South Korea of becoming “frantic in their provocative military exercises.”
The heightened tensions in the Korean Peninsula have been escalating since late December when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un directed the country’s military, munitions industry, nuclear weapons, and civil defense sectors to accelerate war preparations. Kim’s recent statements, including the call for the destruction of a monument symbolizing the potential reunification of the Korean Peninsula, indicate a shift toward a more confrontational stance.
In the past month, North Korea has increased military activities, firing artillery rounds near a disputed border between North and South Korea and testing a ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle. Kim referred to the South as the North’s “primary foe and invariable principal enemy” on Monday.
Analysts suggest that North Korea’s recent actions signal a more intractable stance, rejecting dialogue and defining South Korea as an adversary. The ideological adjustment, focusing on nuclear weapons as a key element for regime survival, raises concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.
