Kim Jong-un, with the strength of his allies, is becoming more and more threatening

The year begins with a bang for Kim Jong-un. Since January 1, not two days have gone by without the regime making its military rhetoric heard. Friday morning, Pyongyang announced that it had tested an “underwater nuclear weapon system” and as always with Kim, it is difficult to tell the truth from the falsehood.

As usual with North Korea, everything is based on communication from the official press agency. We see some blurry photos and a peremptory announcement explains that the test of this nuclear submarine drone is a new warning to protest against the military exercises carried out jointly this week by Japan, South Korea and the United States, at sea from Japan.

Regarding the nature of the weapon in question, it is, according to Pyongyang, an unmanned underwater vehicle equipped with a nuclear warhead, which the North Koreans identify as the “Haeil” (translation of “raz -tidal”). But, once again, it is impossible to say whether it is indeed this system that was tested, whether the test was conclusive, in short, whether this new nuclear technology developed by North Korea is truly operational.

Similar weapon under development by the Russians

On the other hand, we are certain that North Korea is working hard to develop this type of weapon. All specialists in nuclear proliferation affirm that it has the capacity to do so, or in any case that it has given itself the means. In his speech to Parliament last fall, Kim Jong-un decided to incorporate into the Constitution a policy of rapid development of nuclear weapons.

This objective is all the more realistic today as the recent diplomatic rapprochement between North Korea and Russia has potentially accelerated the design of this underwater attack drone. A member of the International Council of Physicists for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Tilman Ruff, was interviewed on an Indian news channel. He claimed that “the Russians are the only ones to have a similar weapon under development. They call it Poseidon. It is a system powered by nuclear energy, which therefore presents the double danger of having both a nuclear reactor on board and a nuclear warhead.” He adds : “In a way, the North Koreans have the desire to imitate the Russian example, even possibly with the help of Russia, it is entirely possible. And if this drone is not yet ready, I have no doubt it will be in a year or two.”

Gradation of provocations

For a while now, Kim Jong-un has been increasing his provocations against South Korea and the West. We are used to this belligerent, almost routine speech from the North Korean leader. But lately he has very concretely increased the tension a notch. He called South Korea enemy No. 1 during his greetings to the nation. Five days later, his army fired several dozen shells at a southern island located 5 km from its coast. This week, Kim Jong-un decided to dissolve all agencies working towards reunification with the South. And then there is this increasingly active cooperation with Moscow.

Thanks to Russia, North Korea was able to obtain decisive technology to put its first military observation satellite into orbit. Kim and Putin are enjoying a perfect honeymoon and the North Korean leader feels himself growing wings. Already protected by Beijing, the rapprochement with Moscow allows Kim Jong-un to play with fire, to gesticulate and provoke with complete impunity.