By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea's repeated threats to take a series of "eventful action steps" may lead to a test of a miniaturized nuclear warhead, according to analysts, Wednesday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered a test of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads on March 15, but unlike missile tests, Pyongyang has yet to conduct a nuclear warhead explosion test, raising speculation that the North is expected to detonate a nuclear warhead in the near future.
"North Korea is expected to test a nuclear warhead soon among others, which will be the final piece to the nuclear weaponization puzzle, given that the repressive state has already displayed its nuclear materials through four nuclear tests and delivery systems behind numerous launches of ballistic missiles," said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University.
"Through a nuclear warhead explosion test, the North is likely to try to show its nuclear weapons are an immediate threat."
A military official also said, "To advance its nuclear program, the North may conduct a nuclear warhead test and other missile launches."
Since Aug. 24, when it successfully test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine, the North Korean leader and its foreign ministry have vowed to take the eventful action steps against the United States and South Korea on three occasions, leading the military to keep close tabs on the North Korean military's activities.
"The North Korean military has followed Kim's instructions since March, but it has yet to fully carry out them," said a South Korean military official, indicating the North's additional provocations.
An Chan-il, the head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, also predicted the North Korean regime's provocative actions.
"In North Korea, the eventful action step carries a significant meaning, so it may be equivalent to an intercontinental ballistic missile test or a fifth nuclear test," An said.
He added that the North may carry out such plans on Sept. 9, its foundation day, or on Oct. 10, the founding day of its Workers' Party.
Along with possible nuclear or missile tests, small-scale North Korean provocations are likely, including a landmine attack near the inter-Korean border, like it did last year, according to Chang.
The United Nations Command said last week the North had planted anti-personnel mines on the northern side of a bridge in the truce village of Panmunjeom.
In addition, the country recently threatened a preemptive nuclear strike on South Korea and the United States in retaliation for the beginning of their war games, or the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise.
In a meeting with her senior secretaries on Monday, President Park Geun-hye ordered stern retaliation against any provocations from the North to make sure that such attempts would lead to the regime's self-destruction which An said was an instruction delivered after considering the present situation there.
Some also say that the North Korean leader would order provocations to tighten his grip on power in the wake of the recent defections of high-ranking North Korean diplomats and protest against the international community's budding move to impose additional sanctions on the country for its recent missile tests.
North Korea's repeated threats to take a series of "eventful action steps" may lead to a test of a miniaturized nuclear warhead, according to analysts, Wednesday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered a test of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads on March 15, but unlike missile tests, Pyongyang has yet to conduct a nuclear warhead explosion test, raising speculation that the North is expected to detonate a nuclear warhead in the near future.
"North Korea is expected to test a nuclear warhead soon among others, which will be the final piece to the nuclear weaponization puzzle, given that the repressive state has already displayed its nuclear materials through four nuclear tests and delivery systems behind numerous launches of ballistic missiles," said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University.
"Through a nuclear warhead explosion test, the North is likely to try to show its nuclear weapons are an immediate threat."
A military official also said, "To advance its nuclear program, the North may conduct a nuclear warhead test and other missile launches."
Since Aug. 24, when it successfully test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine, the North Korean leader and its foreign ministry have vowed to take the eventful action steps against the United States and South Korea on three occasions, leading the military to keep close tabs on the North Korean military's activities.
"The North Korean military has followed Kim's instructions since March, but it has yet to fully carry out them," said a South Korean military official, indicating the North's additional provocations.
An Chan-il, the head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, also predicted the North Korean regime's provocative actions.
"In North Korea, the eventful action step carries a significant meaning, so it may be equivalent to an intercontinental ballistic missile test or a fifth nuclear test," An said.
He added that the North may carry out such plans on Sept. 9, its foundation day, or on Oct. 10, the founding day of its Workers' Party.
Along with possible nuclear or missile tests, small-scale North Korean provocations are likely, including a landmine attack near the inter-Korean border, like it did last year, according to Chang.
The United Nations Command said last week the North had planted anti-personnel mines on the northern side of a bridge in the truce village of Panmunjeom.
In addition, the country recently threatened a preemptive nuclear strike on South Korea and the United States in retaliation for the beginning of their war games, or the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise.
In a meeting with her senior secretaries on Monday, President Park Geun-hye ordered stern retaliation against any provocations from the North to make sure that such attempts would lead to the regime's self-destruction which An said was an instruction delivered after considering the present situation there.
Some also say that the North Korean leader would order provocations to tighten his grip on power in the wake of the recent defections of high-ranking North Korean diplomats and protest against the international community's budding move to impose additional sanctions on the country for its recent missile tests.
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