Against the background of Chinese expansion efforts, the USA, Great Britain and Australia announced the new alliance last week. Among other things, it provides for the governments in Washington and London to support Canberra with the construction of nuclear-powered submarines.
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The new alliance makes it clear that the US is "the main culprit for the overthrow of the international nuclear non-proliferation system," said the ministry official. The government in Pyongyang will "certainly take appropriate countermeasures" if the alliance "has the slightest negative impact on the security of our country."
What's in this security agreement?
The security agreement between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom covers the exchange of technology and information in various fields, including intelligence and quantum technology, as well as the acquisition of cruise missiles.
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But the most important thing in this agreement is nuclear submarines. They will be manufactured in Adelaide, South Australia, with technology and support from the United States and the United Kingdom.
Michael Schubert, director of defense and national security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said: Only six countries in the world have nuclear submarines. "They have a really strong defense capability, even without nuclear weapons."
Nuclear submarines can be much more secretive than ordinary submarines, they operate quietly and they can move easily and are difficult to detect.
The agreement will provide assistance for at least eight nuclear submarines, although it is unclear when they will be brought into service. The process could take longer as Australia does not have the nuclear infrastructure.
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These submarines will not be equipped with nuclear weapons but will be equipped only with nuclear fuel.
"I want to make it clear that Australia is not trying to acquire a nuclear weapon or a civilian nuclear capability," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
US President Joe Biden said the initial consultation with the three countries' teams would last 18 months to decide how the agreement would work and ensure compliance with nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
According to Yin San, co-director of the East Asia Program at the Stimson Center, the move shows that the United States and the United Kingdom are ready for a major decision to give a non-nuclear country a nuclear capability, and that is what makes this partnership unique and special. Is.
A US official told Reuters: "This technology is very sensitive and, to be honest, it is an exception to our policy in every way. I don't think it will move forward under normal circumstances, we see it as a unilateral agreement.
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He added that the United States had exchanged nuclear technology with Britain only once before in 1958.
China had also criticized the new alliance and described it as "extremely irresponsible". This would undermine regional peace and stability, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijing.
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