North Korea Claims to Develop New Nuclear Weapons Technology
Pyongyang claims it is now able to conduct missile launches using underwater silos. The announcement came after a series of North Korean missile tests over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, Seoul is concerned about its air fleet’s reliability.
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the successful test of the underwater launched missile, according to the country’s state-controlled media. Photos showing a ballistic missile rising from beneath the water were published by the outlet.
Pyongyang has carried out 12 missile tests over the past two weeks. Eleven of the 12 missiles were short-range ballistic missiles. North Korea says the underwater missile test occurred on September 25, and involved the simulated loading of “tactical nuclear warheads at a silo under a reservoir.”
Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang’s state outlet, went on to report that recent missile tests have North Korean forces ready to “wipe out” targets in South Korea.
“Through seven times of launching drills of the tactical nuclear operation units, the actuality of the nuclear combat forces of our state and its militant effectiveness and actual war capabilities, which is fully ready to hit and wipe out the set objects at the intended places in the set time, were displayed to the full,” KCNA wrote.
The announcement was made on the 77th anniversary of the North Korean Workers Party. To mark the date, Kim’s government announced other nuclear and missile program developments.
Pyongyang said its October 4th test was a new type of intermediate missile. The missile’s flight path took it over Japanese territory.
North Korea also claims it carried out several simulations of attacks on South Korean targets. One drill involved 150 fighter planes. A separate military exercise focused on taking out Seoul’s airports.
Washington and Seoul carried out a series of military provocations in recent weeks as well. The USS Ronald Reagan made a port call in South Korea. Washington and Seoul also conducted joint war games with Tokyo. South Korea and the US carried out additional bilateral missile tests. Although one South Korean missile malfunctioned and crashed onto an airbase.
Vice President Kamala Harris further inflamed tensions when she went to the North Korean border and slammed Pyongyang. Moreover, she provocatively demanded North Korea denuclearize while indicating the White House will defend South Korea with its nuclear arsenal.
However, Seoul is increasingly concerned that, if called into action, its American-made warplanes will not be able to perform. According to data from the South Korean air force, its Lockheed Martin-manufactured F-35s were fit to carry out missions for a dozen days in 2021. The fifth-generation aircraft are performing slightly better in 2022, each aircraft was mission ready for 11 days in the first half of the year.
Yonhap News Agency said, South Korean F-35s have been “operationally unready” 234 times over an 18-month period. The high rate of unreadiness is causing concern in Seoul.