They fear North Korea will conduct a nuclear test during Joe Biden’s visit to Seoul

The arrival of United States president Joe Biden in South Korea on Friday charged with tensionbecause as a South Korean deputy reported on Thursday, based on an intelligence report, North Korea has already finished its preparations for a nuclear test.

“Preparations for a nuclear test have been completed and they’re just looking for the right moment, ”lawmaker Ha Tae-keung said after being informed by the National Intelligence Service.

Amid the uncontrolled outbreak of the coronavirus in North Korea, no vaccine or medicine to cure the disease, they ensure that the leader, Kim Jong-un, continues his program of atomic and military development.

After record a series of weapon trials conducted since the beginning of the year, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, the controversial dictator could use something more powerful and more threatening to disrupt public opinion from the health crisis, according to various analysts.

In this context, US intelligence services consider that there is a “real possibility” that Kim decided to organize “a provocation” on Biden’s first trip to Asia, arriving in Seoul on Friday afternoon (local time).

This could translate into “more missile tests, long-range missile tests or nuclear tests, or literally both, in the days before, during or after the president’s trip to the region,” the country’s national security adviser warned. . American, Jake Sullivan.

Satellite images indicate North Korea is preparing to conduct a nuclear test, which will be the seventh in its history. Washington and Seoul are warning for several weeks it can happen any day.

“North Korea wants to attract global attention by conducting a nuclear test during President Biden’s visit to South Korea and Japan.”said Cheong Seong-chang of the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute in Seoul.

The visit coincides with the severe outbreak of Covid-19 in North Korea, the first in its territory since the pandemic began, which already nearly two million people have “fever”. Cases, which are estimated to be more numerous, are reported in this way due to the lack of testing kits.

Even from the state media, the contaminated are recommended to be eaten tea with honey or infusions based on willow leaves or honeysucklein a clear example of the scarcity of resources affecting the country.

In Seoul, Biden will handle her first summit with South Korea’s new president, Yoon Suk-yeolwho took office last week.

There is no dialogue between the United States and North Korea

Negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang are paralyzed for many years after the failure of the shocking diplomatic rapprochement achieved between former President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, who met three times.

Analysts point out, however, that this rapprochement has made no progress in dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program.

Recently, Kim advocated strengthening his nuclear arsenal. “as fast as possible”.

According to the considerations of Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha University, part of the blame in this situation should be attributed to the Biden administration and its “systematic neglect” of North Korea since coming to power.

“On the issue of denuclearization and U.S.-North Korea relations, let’s go back to the situation where it’s hard to find any progress,” Park said.

And he added, hopelessly, that “really there is no way to stop north korea now“.

With information from the AFP

DB