North Korea is likely to prepare for its first nuclear test in nearly five years: As the United Nations reported, evidence is growing. Most recently, construction work was observed at an underground testing facility in the north of the country. “The work at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site paves the way for further nuclear weapons development tests,” said a UN expert’s previously confidential report. The production capacity for fissile materials has been increased.
Satellite images indicated that North Korea repaired its tunnel network in Punggye-ri and rebuilt buildings on the site that were demolished in 2018 as part of negotiations with the United States. According to the UN report in recent months, nuclear fuel production capacity at the Yongbyon nuclear power plant in North Korea has also been ramped up.
Suspicious activity known since June
For months, observers have feared that after countless missile tests, ruler Kim Jong Un’s first nuclear test in nearly five years could be imminent. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had already pointed to activities in Punggye-ri in June. North Korea conducted six test explosions there between 2006 and 2017.
The country does not allow international on-site inspections. According to the UN, North Korea has fired more than 30 ballistic missiles this year, including several ICBMs, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
“Just One Misunderstanding Away From Nuclear Destruction”
In anticipation of North Korea’s nuclear program, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday that the world has been “in a time of nuclear danger since the height of the Cold War”. Humanity threatens to forget the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “Today humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation, of nuclear destruction.”
According to UN experts, North Korea continues to finance its nuclear program with hacker attacks in which computer specialists smuggle money into Pyongyang by stealing data. They allegedly stole “hundreds of millions of dollars” worth of cryptocurrencies. Contrary to UN sanctions against the autocracy, the country also exports coal.
North Korea steps up pressure to lift sanctions
With the missile tests and his nuclear program, Kim Jong Un wants to increase the pressure on the world community to lift the sanctions. At the same time, diplomacy with the United States has been at a standstill since Kim’s failed second summit with former US President Donald Trump in February 2019. North Korea then made it clear multiple times that it was not interested in new talks until Washington made new proposals.
In May, the United States failed the UN Security Council to pass a resolution for tougher international sanctions against Pyongyang. Russia and China vetoed the vote in New York.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
