Kim Jong-un Warns South Korea's Nuclear Submarine Plan Will 'Worsen Instability'

An underwater arms race is gathering pace on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has fired a direct warning at Seoul, calling its plan to build nuclear-powered submarines a threat to national security.

An 'Offensive Act'

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim made the remarks while inspecting an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine currently under construction. He stated that South Korea's plan "will worsen the instability" in the region and that the DPRKregards it as an "offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty."

The KCNA report also quoted Kim as saying the move represents "a threat to its security that must be countered," signaling Pyongyang's intent to continue developing its own submarine capabilities.

Rising Tensions at Sea

Kim's warning comes as South Korea and the United States recently agreed to pursue a stand-alone pact for cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines. North Korea's explicit condemnation, paired with the revelation of its own large-scale submarine construction, suggests the inter-Korean arms race is expanding beyond missile development into a new, strategic underwater domain.