South Korea’s Minister of Defense has told lawmakers that although a third North Korean nuclear test is a possibility, there are no signs that Pyongyang plans to conduct one in the immediate future.
Talking at a National Assembly hearing on diplomacy and national security today, Kim Tae Young explained, “While there is a chance of a third nuclear test, there are no clear signs of it happening,” however, “Were North Korean nuclear tests to be two years apart, a test could be this year.”
According to Kim, “We are not able to know about a test beforehand, but can make approximate judgments.”
Noting the danger inherent in the regional security situation, Kim went on, “We are working closely with the U.S, and China. A third North Korean nuclear test represents a big threat to the Republic of Korea’s security, but because it is also a threat to east and northeast Asia we are consulting with parties to the 6-Party Talks and devising measures to combat any test through UN Security Council resolutions.”
Kim also cautioned that North Korea is continuing to develop its nuclear technologies.
“As has appeared in the media, we are aware that North Korea has more than 40kg of plutonium,” Kim said. “They also have the ability to deliver nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles; more than that, we judge that they are working to miniaturize warheads.”
Kim also reiterated that South Korea believes North Korea is moving forward with uranium enrichment activities.
“The higher the frequency of tests, the higher the chance of deployment becomes; we judge that it is possible for North Korea to deploy nuclear warheads,” Kim added, but cautioned, “Information that is not clearly verifiable has its limits.”
