Pyongyang tests an underwater drone

Seoul, Mar 24 (EFE).- The North Korean media reported today that the regime tested this week in the presence of leader Kim Jong-un a new type of underwater drone capable of generating radioactive tsunamis similar to the Russian system known as Poseidon.

The drone was deployed off North Korea’s northeast coast on Tuesday and “reached the target point in the waters of Hongwon Bay established as a simulated enemy port with its test warhead detonating underwater on Thursday afternoon,” the agency reported today. KCNA.

The device, which exploded “after sailing at a depth of 80 to 150 meters tracing an oval course and eight in the East Sea (name given to the Sea of ​​Japan in the two Koreas) for 59 hours and 12 minutes,” was It has been tested coinciding with the great maneuvers that Seoul and Washington are carrying out these days in the south of the peninsula.

“The mission of this weapon is to stealthily penetrate operational waters and cause a large-scale radioactive tsunami through an underwater detonation that destroys naval strike groups and the enemy’s main operational ports,” the KCNA text explained.

According to the text, the weapon began to be developed in 2012 and, after subjecting it to 50 different types of tests (29 of which were attended by Kim Jong-un), its operational deployment was decided in the past plenary session of the Party of Workers held in December last year.

KCNA just published today four photos of the test of this underwater drone in which an underwater silhouette and an explosion near the sea surface can be seen, and some experts have already been quick to question that Pyongyang can have an operational condition. such a weapon.

Russia claims to already have its Poseidon nuclear submarine drones deployed and in operational condition for just a few months, although the enormous secrecy with which they have been developed for years prevents more details about this type of weapon from being known.

Response to allied maneuvers

North Korea, which said it would harshly respond to the great spring maneuvers of the allies and has carried out half a dozen missile launches in the last two weeks, has taken advantage of its celebration to announce the tests of this new type of weapon.

The peninsula is experiencing a historic level of tension after 2022 in which Pyongyang, which has rejected offers to return to dialogue, carried out a record number of weapons tests and in which the allies once again carried out large maneuvers and deployed propulsion aircraft carriers. nuclear or strategic bombers.