Military on alert over possible N. Korea provocation

By Jun Ji-hye

The South Korean military is on high alert as North Korea may conduct another nuclear or ballistic missile test upon the anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party this weekend. The anniversary falls Monday.

“There seems to be a high possibility that the North may push ahead with additional provocations this or next week,” a military official said, declining to be named. “The military is on high alert against any possible provocation.”

Pyongyang could also instigate a provocation ahead of the talks between defense chiefs from South Korea and the United States slated for Oct. 20 in Washington, the official added.

The military authorities in Seoul and Washington have assessed that the North is capable of carrying out a sixth nuclear test at any time at its nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province.

After the fifth and most powerful test, Sept. 9, the North claimed that it had detonated a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can be mounted on a ballistic missile.

U.S. website 38 North, which monitors the North, said Thursday, that Pyongyang was showing increased activity at its nuclear test site in what could be part of preparations for a new test.

Commercial satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri site taken Oct. 1 “indicates continuing activity at all three tunnel complexes that could be used to conduct a nuclear test,” 38 North said.

Activity at the North portal, where Pyongyang conducted its fifth test last month, could be for a number of purposes “including collecting post-test data, sealing the portal or preparing for another test,” the website said.

Satellite imagery showed a large vehicle near the portal’s entrance as well as objects and boxes that were deemed to be construction material.

Near the South portal, small vehicles were seen on the road as well as what appeared to be a group of people, indicating ongoing work or maintenance, the report added.

“The purpose of this activity is also unclear although the portal is assumed to be capable of supporting a nuclear test once a decision is made to move forward,” it said.

Military officials here are also paying keen attention to the possibility that the North may launch ballistic missiles, possibly a Rodong medium-range or Musudan intermediate-range weapon.

The Rodong Sinmun, the North’s main newspaper, claimed last month that its regime is capable of striking major ports in the South where U.S. vessels are docked as well as U.S. bases on the U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Guam.

The possibility of a missile test has been further raised as the allies are planning to hold a joint naval exercise from Oct. 10 to 15.

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan will take part in the exercise that will focus on training naval forces in joint precision attacks on the North’s key military facilities and the regime’s leadership.

The possibility of the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in what the North has claimed as placing an “earth observation satellite” in orbit, has also been raised following its purported successful ground test of a new rocket engine Sept. 20.

When observing the test, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un requested officials and scientists “to round off the preparations for launching the satellite as soon as possible on the basis of the successful test,” according to the North’s Korean Central News Agency.

The ICBM, believed to have a range of more than 10,000 kilometers, is capable of striking targets on the U.S. mainland in theory.

But military officials noted that the possibility of the ICBM launch seems to be comparatively low, given that the North has yet to notify the International Maritime Organization that it is planning to send a rocket carrying a satellite into space.