N. Korea ready for another nuke test any time
Sung Kim, the U.S. special envoy on North Korea's nuclear issue, arrives at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, Monday, for talks with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Hong-kyun, scheduled for today, on North Korea’s latest nuclear test and possible countermeasures. / Yonhap
By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea is ready to carry out an additional nuclear test at any time following its fifth nuclear detonation on Friday, the defense ministry said, Monday.
While confirming its fifth nuclear test three days ago, Pyongyang announced that it plans to continue strengthening its nuclear force.
“The South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities assess that the North is always prepared for an additional nuclear test at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site,” said Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun in a briefing.
According to government sources, North Korea has an unused tunnel at the test facility on the country’s northeastern region and the allies’ intelligence detected the North’s complete preparation for another test there.
“Should the North detonate another nuclear device, it is highly expected to use the unused tunnel,” a government source said.
There are three tunnels at the North Korean nuclear test site and two of them have been used for the country’s previous four tests that took place in 2006, 2009, 2013, and 2016.
Defense Minister Han Min-koo also told lawmakers, Friday, that North Korea is believed to be ready for an additional nuclear test at the unused tunnel.
On the heels of the nuclear test, Sung Kim, the U.S. special envoy on North Korea’s nuclear issue, visited South Korea to discuss with his South Korean counterpart possible countermeasures.
The American envoy, who discussed the issue with his Japanese counterpart, Kenji Kanasugi, in Tokyo on Monday, is scheduled to hold talks with Kim Hong-kyun, Seoul’s special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, today.
Meanwhile, the planned flight of U.S. B-1B strategic bombers, scheduled for Monday, was delayed due to bad weather, according to the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
Two B-1B Lancers were scheduled to fly over the skies of South Korea at around 10:00 a.m. on Monday, flanked by an entourage of one South Korean F-15K and one U.S. F-16 fighter jet, according to the USFK _ an apparent show of force against North Korea.
“Due to inclement weather, the engagement at Osan Air Base scheduled for today has been postponed,” USFK spokesman Christopher Bush said in a statement at an air base in Pyeongtaek.
The USFK said the scheduled flight of the bombers will take place this morning over the U.S. air base.