A South Korean government official said today that North Korea had conducted a “nuclear explosion device” test and warned that a nuclear test could be imminent.
“Operational evidence of a nuclear detonation device has been detected in preparation for the seventh nuclear test,” said Kim Tae-hyo, deputy director of South Korea’s Nuclear Safety Agency.
The tests in question are being conducted away from North Korea’s main nuclear test site, where Seoul is closely guarded, he added.
US and South Korean officials have been warning for weeks that Pyongyang could soon conduct its seventh nuclear test.
On Wednesday, the North fired three missiles, including its largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-17.
These latest statements come after US President Joe Biden wrapped up his visit to South Korea last Sunday.
Despite recently facing a Covid-19 outbreak, Pyongyang has resumed construction of a discontinued nuclear reactor, according to new satellite images.
“North Korean authorities are approaching the final stage of preparing a nuclear test of the scale and quality they want,” the South Korean official told reporters.
“The chances of an imminent nuclear test in a day or two are low, but there is definitely a chance after that,” he added.
The South Korean presidency’s office did not provide further details about the nuclear detonation device that will be tested.
Of the three launches on Wednesday, Kim Tae-hyo noted that “the first launch has been determined to be from the new ICBM, Hwasong-17, which the North has already tried to test in the past.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently insisted on defending his military modernization program after conducting nearly 20 weapons tests this year.
Analysts have warned that the North Korean president may step up plans for nuclear testing to distract the country’s population from the current coronavirus outbreak.
source: Noticias
