North Korea Warns of 'Nuclear Domino' Over South Korea's Submarine Plans

North Korea has strongly denounced South Korea's efforts to develop nuclear-powered submarines, labeling the initiative a "grave security threat" with the potential to ignite a "nuclear domino" effect across the Asia-Pacific region. In a statement, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Jang Kum-chol asserted that any military actions by adversaries threatening the nation's strategic sovereignty would be met with "non-survival, non-regeneration retaliatory strikes."

Jang also justified North Korea's own nuclear armament as a "most responsible choice for war deterrence." He further argued that acquiring robust maritime capabilities is a paramount national strategic imperative. The vice minister specifically referenced South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's remarks at the first Future Strategy Defense Meeting in May, where Lee reportedly framed the nuclear submarine project as an expression of Seoul's commitment to self-reliant regional peace and security.

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The South Korean regime's nuclear submarine possession bid will inevitably lead to a nuclear domino in the Asia-Pacific region.

North Korea disputes this narrative, alleging that South Korea has been secretly pursuing nuclear submarine construction since 2003. Jang claimed this historical pursuit demonstrates that Seoul's ambition is not simply a reactive measure to North Korea's nuclear capabilities or a response to a "regional threat," but rather indicative of a deeper agenda. He also linked South Korea's nuclear submarine aspirations to ongoing discussions with the United States regarding the revision of their bilateral atomic energy agreement, suggesting Seoul aims to secure the right to produce nuclear materials, ultimately leading to nuclear armament.

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Possessing unique power that can respond with non-survival, non-regeneration retaliatory strikes to the military bids of adversaries that threaten our nation's strategic sovereignty will be the most responsible choice for war deterrence.

Furthermore, North Korea directed criticism towards Japan, accusing Tokyo of revealing its "ambition" to acquire nuclear submarines by using South Korea's pursuit as a pretext to abandon its "three non-nuclear principles." Pyongyang has frequently criticized Japan's military actions throughout the year.

Viewing South Korea's nuclear submarine ambitions as part of a larger U.S. hegemonic strategy, Jang warned that such a development would evolve the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral military alliance into a "second AUKUS." He cautioned that if the international community overlooks this, the Asia-Pacific region, encompassing the Korean Peninsula's surrounding waters, the Taiwan Strait, and the South China Sea, could face a "maelstrom of confrontation" driven by a U.S.-led nuclear submarine alliance.

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The fact that South Korea has been secretly advancing its nuclear submarine construction plan since 2003 proves that South Korea's nuclear submarine possession ambition is not a 'reflexive measure' against our country's nuclear possession or a problem of a defensive nature to cope with 'regional threats'.