North Korea confirms the launch of an underwater drone designed to "create a radioactive tsunami"

The South Korean president assures that North Korea "will pay for its irresponsible provocations"

North Korea has confirmed the launch this Friday of a "submarine strategic nuclear weapon" in tests off the coast of Riwon, in the province of South Hamgyong, which has reached the waters of Hongwon Bay, 116 kilometers away. , and designed to "stealthily infiltrate operational waters and create a large-scale radioactive tsunami."

The nuclear drone, which was placed on Tuesday, has detached a warhead that has sailed at a depth of between 80 and 150 meters in the waters of the Sea of ​​Japan, known to Korea as the East Sea, for 59 hours and 12 minutes, according to reports. detailed in a statement by the state agency KCNA.

"After organizing and guiding a combined tactical drill simulating a nuclear counterattack, the Workers' Party Central Military Commission commanded drills from March 21 to 23, which served as a demonstration of military strike capability to alert the enemy of a real nuclear crisis and verify the reliability of the nuclear self-defense forces," North Korea confirmed.

They accuse the United States and South Korea of ​​rehearsing "an exercise of 'occupation' of North Korea, in view of its forms and contents" during the joint military maneuvers that both countries are carrying out under the name of 'Shield'. of freedom'.

These maneuvers, accuses the North Korean country, "urgently require North Korea to prepare its entire Armed Forces structure for a war and strengthen its nuclear capabilities, both in quality and quantity."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen this latest launch with "great satisfaction" and has expressed his intention to make both the United States and South Korea "join in despair over their choice to make this high-profile military demonstration." level".

The president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, has stated that he will ensure that "North Korea pays the price for its irresponsible provocations", in statements collected by Yonhap.

"North Korea is daily expanding its nuclear weapons and carrying out missile provocations with an intensity never seen before," said the president, who has also assured that his government will "dramatically" strengthen cooperation with the United States and Japan in response. to this increase in tension on the peninsula.

On the eve of this new confrontation, the South Korean authorities reported that North Korea had launched several cruise missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan, amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula.