[국제]US “starts preparations for North Korea’s nuclear test”… Talks about countermeasures with South Korea and Japan

[앵커]

The US government believes that North Korea has begun preparing for a nuclear test, CNN reported.

This analysis is consistent with the South Korean government’s observation that North Korea is speeding up the restoration work of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which it bombed four years ago.

Reporter Kang Seong-ok reports

[기자]

CNN reported that North Korea has recently resumed excavation and construction activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Gilju-gun, North Hamgyong Province.

Citing five U.S. officials, they assessed it as an important task for the resumption of nuclear tests.

A U.S. official said it was not yet clear how quickly a nuclear test would be possible, depending on the pace of recovery efforts.

This analysis is consistent with the South Korean government’s observation that North Korea has recently been speeding up the restoration of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

In May 2018, North Korea decided to ‘suspend nuclear tests, intercontinental ballistic missiles and ICBMs’, and invited foreign media from five countries, including South Korea, to blow up some tunnels at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

However, North Korea started testing ballistic missiles one after another this year, and on the 24th of last month, it resumed testing of ICBMs.

The US National Intelligence Service (DNI) predicted in its ‘Annual Threat Assessment’ report released on the 7th of last month that North Korea is likely to resume nuclear tests this year.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has also mentioned the possibility of additional ICBM launches, saying North Korea could launch further provocations in the near future.

In this regard, CNN reported that the Pentagon is considering flying strategic bombers, sailing battleships, and strengthening training as military countermeasures.

South Korea and Japan are discussing this with the United States, and if a decision is made, it could turn into an armed protest, CNN reported.

The Ministry of National Defense recently reported to the National Assembly Defense Committee that the ROK and the US plan to jointly respond strongly, including the deployment of US strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula, if North Korea conducts another ICBM provocation.

This is YTN Kang Seong-ok.

YTN Kang Seong-ok (kangsong@ytn.co.kr)

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