North Korea is rumored to be on the verge of conducting its first full-fledged nuclear test since 2017.
The rogue state, according to South Korea’s foreign minister, has completed its preparations for an atomic blast in a distant part of the nation.
It would be Pyongyang’s eighth such event, but the first since Kim Jong Un ordered the program to be suspended to allow for talks with the United States.
Failed discussions initiated by then-President Donald Trump have remained in limbo since Joe Biden’s election, prompting North Korea to intensify its nuclear weapons program.
Despite the Covid-19 outbreak sweeping the poor country, which has sickened millions, a return to intensive testing has continued.
Its military has launched many ballistic missiles in recent months, but none have resulted in a thermonuclear explosion.
Intelligence agencies in Seoul and Washington, DC, are concerned that this is about to change, and they are looking for indicators that Kim has authorized an atomic attack.
South Korean foreign minister Park Jin warned the North will pay a price if it goes forward after meetings with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington.
‘North Korea has finalized preparations for another nuclear test, and I believe only a political choice remains,’ he told reporters.
‘I believe that if North Korea conducts another nuclear test, it will only reinforce our deterrent as well as international sanctions.’ North Korea should reconsider its position and make the best option possible.’
In response, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken indicated that military assets, as well as the militaries of South Korea and Japan, may be repositioned.
‘We’re planning for all contingencies in close coordination with others, and we’re ready to make both short- and long-term adjustments to our military posture,’ he said.
Both men stated that negotiations are still possible, but allies have accused Pyongyang of abandoning the talks.
North Korea fired what seemed to be artillery projectiles into the sea on Sunday.
Its long-range artillery batteries are located only 25-30 miles from densely populated regions in South Korea near the North Korean border.
There have been signals of activity at the Punggye-ri facility, which was shut down in 2018 after earlier nuclear tests.