North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could conduct a new nuclear test at the Punggye-ri test site at any time if he decides to do so. The information comes from the agencies “Reuters“ and News1, citing the National Intelligence Service of South Korea, reports News.bg.
According to the South Korean agency “Yonhap“, North Korea has also shown signs of preparing for new launches of spy satellites. This is expected to happen with technical support from Russia, with the aim of providing the country with reconnaissance satellites with higher resolution than before.
In late September, South Korea's unification minister said that North Korea had up to two tons of highly enriched uranium - the main material for creating nuclear warheads. The Ministry of Defense in Seoul added that the country has long possessed “significant“ stocks of this material.
Pyongyang conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and has since been subject to a series of UN sanctions over its illegal weapons programs. However, the regime rarely reveals information about its uranium enrichment activities. It was only last September that North Korea publicly confirmed the existence of such a facility.
The country is believed to operate several uranium enrichment facilities, including one at the Yongbyon complex. Although Pyongyang claimed to have suspended its operations following international negotiations, satellite observations show that the facility was reactivated in 2021.