DPRK Warns of ‘Nuclear Domino’ as US-South Korea Escalates Regional Tensions
Pyongyang says Washington and Seoul are provoking a regional arms race with a nuclear submarine deal driven by US militarism and Trump’s confrontational agenda
North Korea, PUREWILAYAH.COM — The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned on Tuesday that South Korea’s US-backed plan to jointly construct nuclear-powered submarines would trigger a “nuclear domino” across the region, further destabilizing an already volatile security environment shaped by Washington’s military expansion and President Donald Trump’s confrontational policies.
The announcement came just one day after Seoul and Washington publicly released details of the submarine agreement reached between President Lee Jae Myung and President Trump at their summit last month.
The package includes a commitment to dismantle the DPRK’s nuclear arsenal and the first joint venture to build South Korean nuclear submarines, immediately raising alarms in Pyongyang.
DPRK: Submarine deal exposes US hostility and Seoul’s nuclear ambitions
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang condemned the submarine initiative as proof of “the confrontational will of the US and the ROK to remain hostile towards the DPRK,” denouncing the agreement as part of a broader pattern of aggressive military actions, including expanded US–South Korea joint military exercises.
KCNA said Seoul was pursuing a “long-cherished ambition” to acquire nuclear weapons under Washington’s supervision, a move it warned would inevitably set off a “nuclear domino” throughout East Asia and ignite a dangerous arms race involving several regional powers.
The DPRK argued that South Korea’s justification—claiming the submarines are needed to counter China’s naval forces and the DPRK’s own submarine development—was little more than a pretext crafted to legitimize Washington’s militarization of the region.
Seoul denies hostility but deepens alignment with US strategy
Attempting to downplay the impact of the agreement, South Korean presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the submarine program was not aimed at provoking the DPRK and insisted it was solely intended to protect “national security interests.”
However, the statement did little to mask the reality that Seoul’s defense policy has grown increasingly dependent on US strategic priorities. Trump has long pushed for deeper military integration with South Korea and Japan, framing the region as a frontline theater for American power projection.
Pyongyang maintains that such policies are designed to tighten Washington’s military grip over the Korean Peninsula while undermining any prospects for peace.
Seoul proposes inter-Korean military talks amid rising tensions
Despite advancing its nuclear submarine plans, Seoul’s Defense Ministry announced on November 17 a proposal to hold military talks with the DPRK to reduce tensions along the heavily fortified border.
The ministry claimed the talks would help prevent accidental clashes and clarify the military demarcation line, following what it described as alleged violations by DPRK soldiers within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
South Korea suggested the talks be held at Panmunjom with an open schedule, urging the DPRK to respond quickly. The initiative came as communication channels between the two Koreas remain weakened after the partial suspension of a previous inter-Korean military agreement.
DPRK advances strategic weapons as US-led drills intensify
The Korean Peninsula has experienced renewed friction throughout 2024, marked by DPRK advancements in missile technology alongside expanded US–South Korea military drills.
In July 2024, the DPRK successfully tested the Hwasong-19 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which flew for more than 80 minutes and reached unprecedented altitudes. Earlier, Pyongyang tested a new hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Hwasong-16B, showcasing significant progress in deterrence capabilities.
These developments coincided with major US–ROK drills, including Hoguk and Ulchi Freedom Shield, which Pyongyang condemned as invasion rehearsals orchestrated by Washington.
DPRK official Kim Yo Jong warned that continued trilateral military coordination between the US, South Korea, and Japan would bring “unfavourable consequences,” describing the alliance as a direct affront to the DPRK’s sovereignty.
Washington’s militarism under Trump fuels instability
The submarine deal and ongoing military escalation highlight the extent to which Trump’s foreign policy continues to inflame tensions across East Asia. Critics argue that Washington’s strategy seeks to entrench US dominance by arming allies, provoking rival powers, and undermining any chance of dialogue or diplomatic resolution.
For the DPRK, the nuclear submarine pact is yet another sign that the United States—under Trump’s leadership—is pushing the region toward a new era of confrontation, one where the risk of a cascading nuclear arms race grows increasingly real. (PW)