North Korea confirms underwater nuclear test. South Korea warns of further escalation
North Korea carried out nuclear weapon tests along the country's eastern coast, according to official reports. This was allegedly a response to maneuvers executed by South Korea and the United States. North Korean state media reports that submarine drones carrying nuclear weapons were tested.
10:11 PM EST, January 19, 2024
South Korea's reaction to North Korea's actions
South Korea's Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying, "This action threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and around the world. If North Korea directly provokes us, we will respond overwhelmingly in accordance with the principle of immediate, strong, and decisive action".
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, announced via state media that his country's actions were provoked by joint maneuvers of Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo. South Korea, the United States, and Japan maintain that frequent military drills serve as a deterrent against North Korea's increasingly frequent nuclear missile tests and trials of new weapons. All such activities are in violation of UN sanctions. However, Kim Jong Un has stated that his country is arming itself in preparation for a potential war that he believes could "break out at any moment".
