North Korea announced this Thursday night that construction of a new “tactical nuclear attack submarine”, a weapon intended to reinforce its naval force, while the government prepares for the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country. The development of the new weapons takes place after the US denounced that the Asian country began negotiations with Russia to provide weapons that will be used in the war with Ukraine.
The North Korean president Kim Jong Un, He had already participated last Wednesday in an event about this submarine and He had assured that “it is part of an advance in the nuclearization of the navy”according to the AFP news agency.
The president insisted on “the need” to equip submarines and other navy vessels “with tactical nuclear weapons”, according to the North Korean state agency KCNA.
The submarine was named “Hero Kim Kun Ok,” according to the agency, and will proclaim “the beginning of a new chapter to strengthen the naval force.” “There is no room to take a step back in pushing for the expansion of the warship construction industry, as it is the priority task that must be accomplished without fail,” Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA.
North Korea conducted a record number of nuclear tests this year, and in late August made its second failed attempt to launch a spy satellite.
Relations between the two Koreas are at their lowest point in years, with diplomatic efforts stalled after failed attempts to discuss Pyongyang’s denuclearization.
Celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of North Korea
Meanwhile, North Korea will celebrate this September 9 the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country. The government will hold a military parade attended by a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed the trip, which “will begin on September 8.”
“We believe that with the joint efforts of both sides, this visit can be a complete success and promote further deepening and development of China-DPRK relations,” said the ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning.
“China and North Korea are close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and the two parties and countries have always maintained a tradition of friendly communication,” he added.
Arms sales to Russia
In the last hours the US denounced that North Korea began a rapprochement with Russia with the aim of supplying it with weapons for the war in Ukraine. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday that negotiations between the two countries were actively moving forward and warned Kim that his country would pay a price.
A report claimed that Kim Jong Un plans to travel to Russia this month to meet with President Vladimir Putin and discuss supplying weapons to Moscow for its war effort.
The vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, He said Thursday that it would be a “big mistake” for North Korea to exchange military support with Russia.
“I think it would be a huge mistake. The idea that they were supplying ammunition for that purpose is… it would be a huge mistake. I also firmly believe that for both Russia and North Korea, this will isolate them even more,” he said in an interview with CBS News.
US nuclear test
In parallel with North Korea’s announcement, the United States launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from the Vandenberg Space Force Base to “verify the safety, effectiveness and readiness of its weapons system,” the Space Force authorities of that country reported.
The launch of the missile, called Minuteman III, was carried out from the US Space Force base located in Santa Barbara County, California, on the Pacific coast.
The country’s Defense Department noted before the launch that the purpose of the program is “to demonstrate the readiness of US nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent,” the Europa Press news agency reported.
Pentagon authorities clarified that the test is “routine” and that it was scheduled years ago, which rules out the idea that the launch was carried out due to the increase in ballistic tests carried out by North Korea in recent years or due to the growing threat from Russia in the context of the invasion of Ukraine.
In accordance with established procedures, the United States transmitted pre-launch notification in accordance with the Hague Code of Conduct and notified the Russian Government in advance of “existing bilateral obligations.”
Source: Ambito
