Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has issued a warning regarding South Korea's initiative to construct nuclear-powered submarines, indicating that such plans could "worsen the instability" in the region. He described Seoul's move as a threat to North Korea's national security, as reported by state media on Thursday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Jong-un made these comments during an inspection of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine currently under construction. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) relayed that Kim criticized Seoul's plan, stating it "will worsen the instability in the region of the Korean Peninsula" and that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) perceives it as an offensive act that severely violates its security and maritime sovereignty.

Kim emphasized that the development represents "a threat to its security that must be countered," signaling potential future tensions and confrontations regarding maritime and regional security dynamics.