NIS: "North Korea Likely to Launch New ICBM and Reconnaissance Satellite Soon"

NIS Reports to National Assembly Intelligence Committee on North Korea Trends
"North Korea Likely to Conduct Large-Scale Exercises Including Nuclear Forces Soon"

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has projected that North Korea may soon conduct large-scale exercises including nuclear forces and possibly launch a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and reconnaissance satellites.

On the 7th, the NIS reported these North Korean developments during a briefing to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee. According to Representative Yoon Gun-young, who serves as the Democratic Party's intelligence committee whip, the NIS stated, "North Korea is likely to carry out large-scale exercises combining nuclear and conventional forces during the March-April period when the South Korea-US joint exercises and summit meetings are scheduled, and there is a possibility of launching a new solid-fuel ICBM." They also reported, "Under Kim Jong-un's orders, there is a possibility of launching reconnaissance satellites in April."

Representative Yoon conveyed, "(The NIS) particularly reported that considering technical demands and Kim Yo-jong's prior warnings, the possibility of a normal-angle test launch of an ICBM with reduced range cannot be ruled out."

Won Hoon-seok, National Intelligence Service [Photo by National Intelligence Service]

Additionally, the NIS disclosed regarding the so-called 'Changwon Spy Ring' case that "investigations are currently underway concerning suspicions that the suspects in the spy ring case were involved in the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering strike," according to Representative Yoo Sang-bum, the People Power Party's intelligence committee whip.

Regarding the issue of transferring counterintelligence investigative authority, Yoo said, "There were requests from lawmakers for reports on measures to ensure that counterintelligence investigative authority is not weakened, and the NIS presented various efforts and concerns about whether counterintelligence investigative authority can be properly exercised."

Meanwhile, concerning the appointment of Attorney Jeong Soon-shin, who resigned a day after being appointed head of the National Investigation Headquarters due to her child's school violence (bullying) issue, the NIS explained that they conducted a background check at the request of the Presidential Office but could not verify matters related to her child as these were not subject to investigation.

According to Representative Yoo Sang-bum, the NIS reported, "We conducted a background check in accordance with the Presidential Chief of Staff's official document, but we could not verify the contents of the court ruling related to the child's school violence issue." Yoo explained, "The family-related matters are not within the scope of the NIS background check," adding, "The fact that there was separate litigation, specifically that her son was involved in litigation, falls outside the scope of the background check."

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