US Says "Regardless of Truth" North Korea's Underwater Nuclear Weapon Test Claim Is a Problem

NSC Coordinator: "Not a Position to Prove... In Contact with Han"
"Kim Jong-un Threat Investigation Must Be Taken Seriously"

The U.S. government, while withholding judgment on the authenticity of North Korea's announcement of testing an underwater nuclear weapons system, emphasized that it will closely coordinate diplomatic and deterrence efforts toward North Korea with South Korea, Japan, and others, urging North Korea to halt provocations and return to diplomacy.

John Kirby, White House National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said in a briefing on the 19th (local time) regarding North Korea's announcement of testing an underwater nuclear weapons system, "There is not much specific information," and "We are not in a position to verify such claims." He added, "We are gathering information to verify this through contact with the South Korean government," and "At this level, we cannot confirm whether North Korea actually tested an underwater nuclear weapon."

Earlier, a spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of Defense defined the joint maritime exercises by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan in international waters near Jeju (from the 15th to the 17th) as "an act that seriously threatens national security," and announced that they tested the underwater nuclear weapons system called 'Haeil-5-23.'

Coordinator Kirby condemned, "The continuous provocations carried out by Kim Jong-un and the North Korean regime are an ongoing problem regardless of their authenticity," and stated, "There is no doubt that they have pursued military expansion to threaten their neighbors and the region."

He emphasized, "That is why U.S. President Joe Biden took significant measures that could be confirmed at the Camp David summit with the leaders of South Korea and Japan to unite the alliance," and added, "Through the agreement among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to strengthen trilateral cooperation and the establishment of a new Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), we have been able to obtain more advanced information regarding the Korean Peninsula."

When asked whether North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's nuclear and war threats aimed at South Korea and the U.S. are likely to lead to actual actions, Coordinator Kirby responded, "The rhetoric of the person responsible for a regime that continues to pursue military buildup, including nuclear capabilities, must be taken seriously."

He continued, "That is why we are working to respond to such threats," and added, "We must take this seriously, and Kim Jong-un should focus on supplying food to the North Korean people rather than on military expansion."

Meanwhile, Coordinator Kirby referred to the close strengthening of ties between North Korea and Russia, including foreign minister talks, stating, "The closeness between the two countries is clearly a concerning matter not only for Ukraine but also for our interests and the Korean Peninsula."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.