Signs of North Korea's 7th Nuclear Test Imminent, Only Kim Jong-un's Decision Remains

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] As North Korea's 7th nuclear test is imminent, tensions on the Korean Peninsula are escalating further.

Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site Explosion Scene
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

South Korea, along with the United States and Japan, is closely monitoring signs of North Korea's nuclear test preparations and is in close consultation on response measures should the test actually take place.

According to the Voice of America (VOA) broadcast on the 29th, David Albright, a nuclear expert and physicist at the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), said regarding the situation at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, “It appears that North Korea has already connected the existing tunnel entrance with a new entrance and completed the excavation process,” to VOA.

He added, “It seems that only the task of connecting electrical cables to the space for the nuclear test remains.” The work of connecting cables between measuring instruments that gauge the nuclear explosion's power and the ground control center, as well as backfilling the tunnel with soil, gravel, plaster, and concrete, are final steps in the nuclear test preparation phase.

He stated, “Generally, cable line connections are not made unless preparations for a nuclear test are complete,” indicating that North Korea is preparing to start a nuclear test.

Earlier, Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, also assessed on the 25th that “tests of nuclear detonation devices to prepare for the 7th nuclear test are being detected at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and other locations,” suggesting that North Korea's nuclear test is imminent.

The detonation device compresses nuclear material beyond the critical threshold to initiate a chain nuclear reaction at high temperatures, which is also a sign that the nuclear test preparation phase is near completion.

Victor Cha, Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank, wrote on the 26th (local time) in an article titled “North Korea’s Provocations During U.S. Holidays,” that “North Korea has shown behavior that disrupts major U.S. holidays,” and predicted that “North Korea is likely to conduct a nuclear test during the upcoming U.S. Memorial Day week (May 30).”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Intelligence authorities are closely monitoring related developments under the judgment that North Korea's nuclear test is imminent.

Intelligence agencies believe that if not during Memorial Day week, Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, may issue the nuclear test order at the Workers' Party Central Committee plenary meeting scheduled between June 1 and 15.

When North Korea conducted its 6th nuclear test in 2017, Kim also convened the Party Political Bureau Standing Committee and approved the nuclear test. Therefore, there is also a forecast that the moment Kim asserts procedural legitimacy and decides on the nuclear test, it will be executed immediately.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense has announced that it will continue to seek appropriate responses, including joint exercises with South Korea and Japan, if North Korea's provocations persist.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the Department of Defense, said at a regular briefing on the 27th (local time) regarding the need to strengthen military deterrence against North Korea following the failure of additional UN Security Council resolutions, “In response to several ballistic missile launches, we conducted exercises with our counterparts in South Korea and Japan.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, “A few weeks ago, we also discussed enhancing ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) activities in the region,” and said, “If they (North Korea) continue these launches and cause instability and unease on the Korean Peninsula, we will continue to seek appropriate military response opportunities when justified.”

Earlier, after North Korea conducted missile provocations on the 25th, immediately following U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to South Korea and Japan, South Korea and the U.S. responded with counter-fire using ground-to-ground and ATACMS missiles. They also released footage of F-15 fighter jets performing an elephant walk and stated, “South Korea and the U.S. were prepared simultaneously and responded together.”

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