North Korea has announced that in the past 48 hours it has tested a new underwater drone capable of being used for a nuclear attack, in response to joint military exercises by the US and South Korea, the North Korean news agency KCNA reported today.

The North Korean armed forces deployed from Tuesday to Thursday the new weapon system off the coast of South Hamgyong. According to KCNA, the particular weapon system has the ability to cause a “large-scale radioactive tsunami” with an underwater explosion and destroy enemy ships and ports. The underwater drone “can be deployed on any coast or port and towed by a ship,” according to KCNA.

North Korea fired long-range cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said shortly before the end of the Freedom Shield military exercises.

Pyongyang has come out against high schools run by South Korean and US forces, claiming they are rehearsals for an invasion of North Korean territory.

The test of the new weapon system took place about a week after the launch of North Korea’s most powerful missile, the Hwasong-17. It was North Korea’s second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test since early 2023.