North Korea Accuses US of Provoking South Korea and Japan to Acquire Nuclear Submarines

Seoul, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : North Korea has accused the United States of encouraging South Korea and Japan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. This allegation comes as North Korea seeks to bolster its own nuclear capabilities.

The tensions escalated following comments made by a U.S. Navy official last Thursday in Hawaii. During a press briefing, the official stated that South Korea must provide clear military and strategic justifications for pursuing such submarines, rather than viewing them merely as symbols of prestige. The official’s remarks on Japan’s efforts in this area were met with a more favorable response.

In a commentary published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), an international affairs analyst claimed that the U.S. is attempting to provoke South Korea and Japan into acquiring nuclear submarines. The analyst labeled the U.S. as “the largest facilitator of nuclear proliferation in the world.”

The commentary further alleged that the U.S. is trying to share nuclear submarine technology with its allies, including South Korea and Japan, through the AUKUS security partnership. This partnership, which includes the U.S., the UK, and Australia, was announced in 2021 and signed in 2024, paving the way for Australia to obtain nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. technology. Many experts view this as a potential model for future agreements between South Korea and the U.S.

North Korea criticized the attempts by South Korea and Japan to acquire nuclear submarines as “reckless steps.” It argues that these actions illustrate how the U.S. is using its allies as a form of advanced military force to counter rival nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The analyst warned that this development poses a threat to the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and urged North Korea to continually strengthen its nuclear deterrent capabilities in both quantity and quality.