North Korea says it has carried out a test of its “underwater nuclear weapons system” in response to drills by the US, South Korea and Japan this week.

The underwater drone, which supposedly can carry a nuclear weapon, was tested off the east coast, state media said.

There is no other evidence of the tests being conducted and Seoul had earlier said the North’s descriptions of the drones’ capability were exaggerated.

South Korea called the reported tests a “provocation”.