On September 29th, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement through the KCNA, stating that the United States' approval of South Korea's construction of its first nuclear submarine is a "dangerous development," which brings new instability to the political and military situation in the Asia-Pacific region.
The North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it cannot be ignored that the United States attempts to win over allies such as Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Canada, aiming to make the 'US-Australia-Japan Trilateral Security Partnership' (AUKUS) truly become the world's largest nuclear submarine alliance. The US's approval of South Korea's access to nuclear submarines further confirms the dangerous trend of nuclear proliferation through nuclear submarines.
The statement says that if the United States continues to be allowed to spread its comprehensive and unrestrained nuclear capabilities, then the “Pandora box” will be completely opened, bringing terrible nuclear disasters to humanity.
The Korean side also stated that the current international geopolitical situation—due to the rapid expansion of American nuclear power and its reckless nuclear proliferation—leads to a complete collapse of the international nuclear order. This requires North Korea to play a more active role in maintaining world peace and ensuring global strategic stability.
Reuters reported that South Korea's nuclear submarine program was agreed upon with the United States based on a trade agreement reached between South Korea and the US last year. South Korea plans to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the mid-2030s, and claims this is a new initiative aimed at 'countering the threats of North Korean submarine-launched nuclear weapons and missiles'.
