In a state media commentary on Tuesday, North Korea condemned a contract between Seoul and Washington to construct nuclear-powered submarines, claiming that it would have a "nuclear domino" effect. Last week, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung declared that a long-awaited security and commerce deal with the United States had been finalized, along with intentions to proceed with the development of atomic-powered boats. "Support for expanding our authority over uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing" has been obtained, according to Seoul.
The nuclear-armed North responded to the agreement by calling the submarine program a "dangerous attempt at confrontation" in its initial remarks.

The agreement is a "serious development that destabilises the military security situation in the Asia-Pacific region beyond the Korean peninsula and causes the situation of impossible nuclear control in the global sphere," according to a commentary published on Tuesday by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The possession of nuclear submarines by South Korea "is bound to cause a 'nuclear domino phenomenon' in the region and spark a hot arms race," Pyongyang continued.
The observation was made barely one day after Seoul made its first offer in seven years to hold military negotiations with Pyongyang in order to prevent border conflicts. In a dramatic departure from his conservative predecessor's aggressive posture, President Lee has also promised to have more extensive talks with the North without any conditions.
Lee's advances have not yet received a response from North Korea.