North Korea Blames US 'Nuclear Submarine Alliance' for Arms Buildup

North Korea on Wednesday accused the United States of broadening what it called a "nuclear submarine alliance," arguing that the effort erodes global nuclear security. The criticism, carried by state media, coincided with the fifth anniversary of the AUKUS defence pact among the United States, Britain and Australia.

An international affairs analyst identified as Choe Ju Hyon said Washington was stepping up nuclear proliferation efforts. The commentary pointed to a senior U.S. naval official who it said had encouraged Japan and South Korea to pursue nuclear-powered submarines.

According to the commentary, the AUKUS arrangement — under which the U.S. and Britain are helping Australia obtain nuclear-powered submarines — has become a model Washington wants to extend to other allies, including South Korea and Japan. It cited Seoul's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and ongoing discussion in Tokyo as evidence of that trend.

Pyongyang said these developments justified its own continued expansion of a nuclear deterrent.

North Korea has been advancing a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed submarine programme. In December, state media photographs showed a largely completed submarine hull as leader Kim Jong Un visited a shipyard to inspect what was described as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine. Kim called it a crucial step in the modernisation and nuclear armament of the navy.

In a separate report, state media said a delegation from North Korea's Ministry of National Defence, led by Vice Minister Kim Kang Il, left Pyongyang on Tuesday to attend a regional security conference in China, the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.