|
N.Korea Plans Another Nuclear Test
North Korea is likely to conduct another nuclear test or test-fire a missile after South Korea's general elections on Wednesday, a pundit speculated Tuesday. Victor Cha of the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies said the North will probably carry out further provocations between the general elections in South Korea and a massive Workers Party congress slated for early May. "Historically, North Korea has responded with a missile or DMZ provocation within an average seven-day span before or after the legislative election event," Cha said. An exception was the "sunshine policy" of engagement with the North from 2000 to 2004. Cha pointed out that commercial satellite imagery suggests the North has finished all preparations so it can conduct another nuclear test "without any forewarning." "The domestic dynamic of establishing the North's recognized nuclear weapons status in time for the party congress is also a driving causal factor," he said. The regime may feel a "need for an action" because April 15 is the 104th birthday of regime founder Kim Il-sung. "The provocation could take the form of a fifth nuclear test... Or, it could take the form of a launch of one of North Korea as-yet untested mobile, medium and long-range ballistic," he added. CNN on Wednesday quoted U.S. government officials as saying satellites have spotted signs "that North Korea may be preparing for an unprecedented launch of a mobile ballistic missile which could potentially hit portions of the U.S." Posted by: Steve White 2016-04-15 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=452629 |