North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has slammed a new nuclear submarine development deal between the United States and South Korea, saying the move threatens stability in the Korean Peninsula.
During a visit of a submarine production facility where his forces are reportedly working on an 8,700-tonne nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine, Kim spoke about the deal between neighbouring South Korea and the US, saying it is an “offensive act severely violating [Pyongyang’s] security and maritime sovereignty and a threat to security that must be countered,” as per state-owned outlet, KCNA.
During his visit of the facility Pyongyang, Kim also oversaw the test firing of a new high-altitude long-range anti-air missile into the Sea of Japan, which the Korean leadership calls its own territory.
The North Korean leader vowed to push his country further “for the development and modernisation of nuclear weaponisation of the naval force,” stated official sources.
The country is aggressively working on building its naval capabilities, which experts suggest is being assisted by Russian scientists, especially in the wake of both Russia and North Korea signing multiple defence agreements during a three-day state visit of Moscow’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, earlier this year.
The South Korean leadership, meanwhile, recently invited its norther Korean neighbour to hold bilateral negotiations aimed at defusing tensions and denuclearisation of the Peninsula.
Pyongyang, however, rejected the offer, insisting that it will never give up its nuclear weapons, which it views as essential guarantees of its security and sovereignty.
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