US State Department Deputy Spokesperson: "North Korea May Complete Preparations for 7th Nuclear Test This Month"

Jalina Porter, U.S. Department of State Deputy Spokesperson [Image source= U.S. Department of State website]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson said that North Korea could complete preparations for its 7th nuclear test within this month, according to major foreign media reports on the 6th (local time).

At a press briefing that day, Deputy Spokesperson Zerlina Porter was asked about North Korea's nuclear test readiness and responded, "The U.S. assesses that North Korea is preparing the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and could be ready to conduct the 7th test there as early as this month."

Porter stated that this assessment aligns with North Korea's recent public statements, and that the U.S. will closely cooperate and share information with its allies and partner countries. She also mentioned President Biden's upcoming visits to South Korea and Japan this month, saying that these visits demonstrate the strengthening of alliances and the ironclad nature of security commitments.

North Korea previously conducted its 6th nuclear test in September 2017. In April 2018, amid a favorable atmosphere created by the North Korea-U.S. summit between then-President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea voluntarily declared a moratorium on nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches. In May of the same year, North Korea also dismantled the Punggye-ri nuclear test site by means of demolition. However, it was assessed that while the entrance to the nuclear test site was destroyed, the entire underground structure was not demolished.

This year, North Korea has shown a changed attitude by conducting successive ballistic missile test launches. It threatened to scrap the moratorium on nuclear tests and ICBM launches, and in fact, on March 24, it conducted an ICBM test launch, effectively ending the moratorium.

Recently, satellite images have continuously confirmed that North Korea is conducting excavation work next to Tunnel No. 3 at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, raising ongoing concerns that this tunnel could be used for experiments involving tactical nuclear weapons and others.

CNN has also been reporting daily on North Korea's potential resumption of nuclear tests. Citing U.S. government officials, CNN reported the day before that U.S. defense and intelligence agencies believe North Korea could be ready to resume underground nuclear testing within this month. On the 6th, CNN also cited satellite image analysis from the U.S.-based North Korea specialist media '38 North,' reporting new activity detected around the command post of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. Notably, for the first time since North Korea began restoring Tunnel No. 3, a cargo truck was spotted parked in front of the command post headquarters building at the nuclear test site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.