SEOUL - North Korea conducted another test of a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone, state media said on Saturday, the latest in a show of force against the United States and South Korea.

The country tested the nuclear-capable unmanned underwater attack weapon, called Haeil-2, more than a week after it disclosed a new underwater drone system, dubbed Haeil-1, designed to make sneak attacks in enemy waters.

Haeil translates to tsunami in Korean.

Analysts say that North Korea is displaying its diverse nuclear delivery capabilities against Washington and Seoul, though they are sceptical about whether the underwater vehicle is ready for deployment.

During the underwater strategic weapon system test held from Tuesday to Friday, the drone cruised an underwater distance of 1,000km in 71 hours and six minutes before successfully hitting a simulated target, said state media KCNA.

“The test perfectly proved the reliability of the underwater strategic weapon system and its fatal attack ability,” KCNA said.

Photographs released by state media showed a large, dark-coloured torpedo-shaped object as well as tracks of the object’s underwater trajectory and blast visible on the surface of the sea.

North Korea has ramped up its military activities in recent weeks, protesting against US and South Korea’s joint military exercises.

It unveiled new, smaller nuclear warheads and fired an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking anywhere in the US.

REUTERS