Kim Jong-un says Seoul’s plans to build nuclear submarines a ‘threat’

Tokyo (EFE).- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday denounced South Korea’s plan to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, with the approval of the United States, as a «threat» to the country’s security.

During an inspection of the progress on the construction of its own 8,700-ton nuclear submarine, Kim asserted that the plan «will worsen the instability in the region of the Korean peninsula,» according to statements published by the North Korean state news agency KCNA.

Pyongyang considers Seoul’s plans «as an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty and a threat to its security that must be countered,» the agency reported.

The leader was referring to the decision by US authorities to partially lift restrictions on South Korea’s uranium enrichment in order to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines that would allow it to counter North Korea’s superiority in this area.

During his inspection, the North Korean leader asserted that Pyongyang’s construction of its own nuclear submarine, equipped with guided missiles, “will serve as an epoch-making crucial change that further assures ourselves and even the enemy of the war deterrent level the DPRK has reached,» according to KCNA.

South Korea has long aspired to develop its own nuclear-powered submarines, but its main obstacle lies in the legal and technological restrictions stemming primarily from its nuclear energy treaty with the US, known as Agreement 123, which prohibits the Asian nation from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent nuclear fuel for purposes other than peaceful and civilian ones.

Since nuclear-powered submarines require highly enriched uranium or specialized nuclear fuel regulated by this agreement, South Korea cannot proceed without explicit approval from Washington or a substantial amendment to the treaty.

Currently, only six countries in the world possess and operate nuclear-powered submarines, an asset with which Seoul hopes to reverse Pyongyang’s current superiority.

Pyongyang currently has a fleet of some 70 diesel-electric submarines, almost three times the number of its southern neighbor. EFE

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