North Korean Nuclear Test Imminent... South Korea and U.S. Take Urgent Measures to Respond to Provocation

On the 24th, officials from North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Research Institute carried out demolition work to close the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province. An international press corps from five countries is covering the largest tunnel being dismantled, Tunnel No. 4. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] North Korea's 7th nuclear test appears imminent. The United States has requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and military authorities also believe that North Korea will conduct a nuclear test around the time of President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration and the South Korea-US summit.

The military authorities are closely monitoring the possibility of provocations by the North Korean military and preparations for a nuclear test. A military official said on the morning of the 10th, the day of President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration, in response to reporters' questions about North Korean military movements, "We are closely tracking and monitoring key facilities and areas," adding, "Our military maintains a firm readiness posture." The 'key facilities' likely refer to the No. 3 tunnel at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which North Korea has virtually completed restoring.

North Korea has continued provocations, launching a ballistic missile presumed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on the 4th, just before the new government’s inauguration, and on the 7th, firing a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from a submerged submarine.

Military and intelligence authorities are reportedly assessing that North Korea is likely to escalate provocations further with the new government’s launch and may soon carry out the 7th nuclear test. President Yoon officially began his duties by receiving the command of the armed forces at midnight in the National Crisis Management Center (underground bunker) located beneath the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, and the National Security Office reported that he emphasized to the military leadership the importance of maintaining a firm military readiness posture during this critical time for security on the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, concerns over the resumption of North Korea’s nuclear tests have grown, prompting the United States to request an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

According to foreign media, the United States requested an emergency meeting on the North Korean issue to be held on the 11th, and the meeting is expected to take place around 3 p.m. New York time.

Additionally, the U.S. State Department has warned about the possibility of North Korea preparing for its 7th nuclear test. On the 6th, deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter stated at a regular briefing, "We assess that North Korea is preparing the Punggye-ri test site," adding, "They may be ready to conduct a test there as early as this month. This would be the seventh test."

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