Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stated that South Korea's initiative to develop nuclear-powered submarines will "worsen the instability" in the region, characterizing Seoul's move as a threat to North Korea's national security, according to state media on Thursday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim made these remarks during an inspection of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine currently under construction. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim expressed concerns over Seoul's plan, describing it as an "offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereignty."

DPRK, the official name of North Korea, stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim emphasized that the plan poses "a threat to its security that must be countered." This development underscores the ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as both North and South Korea continue to enhance their military capabilities.