US sees N.Korea nuclear test ‘as early as this month’

Space war

3 years ago

The United States said Friday that it believes North Korea may be preparing a nuclear test as soon as this month, its first since 2017.

The State Department went public with its assessment amid mounting US frustration with North Korea, which has carried out a series of missile tests.

“The United States assesses that the DPRK is preparing its Punggye-ri test site and could be ready to test there as early as this month,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter said, referring to North Korea by its official name.

“This assessment is consistent with the DPRK’s own recent public statements,” she told reporters.

“We have shared this information with allies and partners and will continue closely coordinating with them as well.”

US President Joe Biden later this month travels to Japan and South Korea where concerns about Pyongyang are expected to be high on the agenda.

A North Korean test could coincide with Biden’s visit or with the May 10 inauguration in South Korea of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who has vowed to take a harder line on Pyongyang.

North Korea carried out six nuclear tests before embarking on unusually high-profile diplomacy with the United States, with former president Donald Trump meeting three times with leader Kim Jong Un.

Despite Trump’s declarations that the two “fell in love,” their meetings produced no permanent agreement on dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program.

North Korea has shown little interest in resuming negotiations with the Biden administration, which supports diplomacy with Pyongyang but at the working level.

Thanks for being here;

We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook – our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don’t have a paywall – with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Contributor

$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly

paypal only

North Korea mobilises white-collar workers to fight drought: state media

Seoul (AFP) May 5, 2022

North Korea’s white-collar workers have been deployed to farming areas across the country to help fight against drought, state media said, as the impoverished nation struggles to prevent heavy crop damage.

The isolated, nuclear-armed nation – which is under multiple sets of sanctions over its weapons programmes – has long struggled to feed itself and suffers chronic food shortages.

The country is highly vulnerable to natural disasters including flood and drought due to chronic lack of infrastr … read more