North Korea tested the Haeil-5-23 underwater nuclear weapon system.
Pyongyang took such a step in response to joint military exercises between the United States, Japan and South Korea.
TASS reported this with reference to the Central Telegraph Agency of the DPRK.
The latter stated that from January 15 to 18, the following were involved in the exercises off Jeju Island:
– American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, cruiser Princeton, equipped with the Aegis multifunctional combat system;
– ships of the Navy of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the South Korean Navy.
In response, the Institute of Underwater Weapons Systems at the DPRK National Defense Academy tested an underwater nuclear weapons system in the East (Japan) Sea.
It is separately noted that Heil-5-23 is currently under development.
Pyongyang emphasizes that its army is improving its “underwater nuclear response readiness.”
For this reason, the DPRK continues “various retaliatory actions above and below sea in order to deter hostile military actions of the US Navy and its allies.”
Earlier, Japan said that North Korea carried out a ballistic missile.
