South Korea\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Talking at a National Assembly hearing on diplomacy and national security today, Kim Tae Young explained, \u201cWhile there is a chance of a third nuclear test, there are no clear signs of it happening,\u201d however, \u201cWere North Korean nuclear tests to be two years apart, a test could be this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Kim, \u201cWe are not able to know about a test beforehand, but can make approximate judgments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noting the danger inherent in the regional security situation, Kim went on, \u201cWe are working closely with the U.S, and China. A third North Korean nuclear test represents a big threat to the Republic of Korea\u2019s 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.\u201d <\/p>\n
Kim also cautioned that North Korea is continuing to develop its nuclear technologies.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs has appeared in the media, we are aware that North Korea has more than 40kg of plutonium,\u201d Kim said. \u201cThey also have the ability to deliver nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles; more than that, we judge that they are working to miniaturize warheads.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kim also reiterated that South Korea believes North Korea is moving forward with uranium enrichment activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d Kim added, but cautioned, \u201cInformation that is not clearly verifiable has its limits.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
South Korea\u2019s 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, \u201cWhile there is a chance of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":154,"featured_media":13614,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n