SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: North Korea conducted another test of a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, state media said on Saturday, the latest in a show of force against the U.S. and South Korea.

The country tested another kind of nuclear-capable unmanned underwater attack weapon called Haeil-2, more than a week after it disclosed a new underwater drone system dubbed Haeil-1, which translates to the tsunami in Korean, designed to make sneak attacks in enemy waters.

Analysts said North Korea was displaying its diverse nuclear delivery capabilities against Washington and Seoul, though they were skeptical about whether the underwater vehicle was ready for deployment.

During the underwater strategic weapon system test that ran from Tuesday through Friday, state media KCNA said, the drone navigated 1,000 km of underwater distance for 71 hours, and 6 minutes, and successfully hit a simulated target.

“The test perfectly proved the reliability of the underwater strategic weapon system and its fatal attack ability,” KCNA said.

North Korea has ramped up its military activities in recent weeks, protesting the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.

It unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads and fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the United States.
VOA