N. Korea appears to be ready for nuclear test once Kim makes decision: defense intelligence

North Korea blows up Tunnel No. 4 at the North Korea's only known nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province, May 24, 2018. Yonhap

North Korea appears to be ready to promptly carry out what would be its seventh nuclear test should leader Kim Jong-un make a decision on it, the defense intelligence agency was quoted as saying by lawmakers Wednesday.

If Kim makes a decision to conduct a nuclear test utilizing the No. 3 tunnel at Punggye-ri, it can be carried out in a short time, Rep. Park Sun-won of the ruling Democratic Party and Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the main opposition People Power Party, who co-chairs the parliamentary intelligence committee, told reporters following a closed-door audit of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Pyongyang last conducted an underground nuclear test in 2017.

North Korea appears to be beefing up efforts to secure nuclear material and is establishing various types of manufacturing facilities for nuclear warheads, according to the assessment by the agency.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang seems to be preparing for the launch of another spy satellite, capable of providing high-resolution imagery compared with its existing spy satellite, backed by technological assistance from Russia.

The North successfully launched its first military spy satellite, the Malligyong-1, in November 2023 and had vowed to launch three more spy satellites in 2024.

But it has yet to launch another one since a rocket carrying a satellite exploded shortly following takeoff in May last year.

North Korea appears to be partially operating the now-shuttered Kaesong Industrial Complex, running facilities used to manufacture everyday necessities, according to the agency.