South Korea: North Korea completes nuclear test preparations

North Korea has completed preparations for a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site, South Korean lawmakers said on October 30. The information was previously reported to South Korean officials by the South Korean Defense Ministry.

South Korean lawmakers also said Pyongyang could launch an intercontinental ballistic missile in November.

Image of North Korea's ballistic missile launch. (Photo: NK News)

North Korea has pursued a nuclear weapons program for decades and is believed to have enough fissile material for dozens of such weapons. It has conducted six nuclear tests since 2006, with each test increasing in intensity. The country's most recent nuclear test was in 2017.

In recent years, North Korea has been testing ballistic missiles and intercontinental missiles at an increasingly rapid pace.

North Korea is stepping up its production of tactical nuclear weapons. Kim Jong-un has ordered the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of nuclear counterattacks, as well as the production of tactical nuclear weapons with great destructive power.

Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that the country will not hesitate to use all available attack forces, including nuclear weapons, if its sovereignty is violated.

Accordingly, Mr. Kim Jong-un affirmed that if any country uses armed forces to violate the sovereignty of North Korea, North Korea will not hesitate to use all the attack forces it possesses, including nuclear weapons.

During his tour of the strategic missile base and inspection of its transport vehicles on October 23, Kim Jong-un inspected “important functions and capabilities of launch-related facilities at the missile base.” He praised North Korea’s missile force as playing a “key role” in deterrence, which is the country’s top priority.

Kong Anh (Source: Kyodo News)

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