North korea: North Korea sharply criticized South Korea's plan to build its first nuclear-powered submarine, calling the move a "grave development" that risks triggering an uncontrollable "nuclear domino" effect across the region.
According to Qatar News Agency, the reaction came in response to a document released Friday by Seoul and Washington outlining the outcomes of two summits held in August and October between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump. The allies also issued a joint communiqu© on the same day following their annual defense talks held in early November.
In a lengthy commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea said Seoul's newly approved nuclear submarine program would "destabilize the military and security landscape of the Korean Peninsula and beyond" and constitutes a step toward South Korea weaponizing nuclear energy.
"The ROK's possession of a nuclear submarine is a strategic move for 'its own nuclear weaponization,' and this is bound to cause a nuclear domino phenomenon in the region and spark a hot arms race," KCNA said.
The commentary argued that the decision, supported by Washington, would intensify regional arms competition and create an "uncontrollable nuclear escalation," elevating Seoul's status to that of a "quasi-nuclear state."
Pyongyang also denounced the joint fact sheet issued by Seoul and Washington, saying it formalizes both sides' confrontational posture toward North Korea.
The North further criticized the United States for reaffirming its commitment, together with South Korea, to achieving the "complete denuclearization" of the North, calling the announcement "the most vivid manifestation" of the Trump administration's policy toward Pyongyang.