North Korea Slams U.S. Over Submarine Deal With Australia, Warns Of Countermeasures

https://www.npr.org/2021/09/20/ [login to see] /north-korea-slams-us-over-submarine-deal-with-australia-warns-countermeasures
North Korea has criticized the U.S. decision to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia and warned of unspecified countermeasures if it finds the deal affects the North's security.

State media on Monday published comments from an unidentified North Korean Foreign Ministry official who called the arrangement between U.S., Britain and Australia an "extremely dangerous act" that would destroy the security balance in the Asia-Pacific and trigger a "chain reaction of arms races."

The official said the North was closely examining the deal and would proceed with corresponding actions if it has "even the smallest negative affect on our country's safety."

U.S. President Joe Biden revealed last week a new alliance including Australia and Britain that would deliver an Australian fleet of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines. Biden has stressed the vessels would be conventionally armed.

The announcement triggered an angry reaction from France, which accused Australia of concealing its intentions to back out of a $66 billion contract for French majority state-owned Naval Group to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.