North Korea Accuses US of Expanding Nuclear Submarine Alliance

The Government of North Korea accused the United States of undermining global nuclear security by expanding a nuclear submarine alliance. Through the Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang claimed Washington is using the AUKUS pact—a security partnership between the U.S., Britain, and Australia—as a template for an "AUKUS 2.0" expansion to encourage Japan and South Korea to pursue similar capabilities.

These accusations followed comments from a U.S. Navy official in Hawaii, who suggested South Korea requires a clear operational rationale for such vessels rather than treating them as a "status symbol," while expressing a more favorable view of Japan's efforts. North Korea characterized the U.S. as the "major chieftain of the worldwide nuclear proliferation" and described these moves as "reckless acts" of military adventurism.

Pyongyang stated that these U.S. proliferation efforts justify the continued qualitative and quantitative expansion of its own nuclear deterrent. This rhetoric follows a December inspection by Kim Jong Un of an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine hull, which he described as a crucial step in the navy's modernization. Separately, a North Korean Ministry of National Defence delegation led by Vice-Minister Kim Kang Il departed Pyongyang on September 15 to attend the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in China.