N. Korea’s activities fuel fear of another provocation

N. Korea’s activities fuel fear of another provocation. October. 08, 2016 07:59. by 손효주기자, 워싱턴=이승헌 hjson@donga.com,특파원ddr@donga.com.

Activities at North Korea’s nuclear test and long-range missile test sites have fueled speculation that Pyongyang is preparing another provocation. Marking the 10th anniversary of the first nuclear test on Oct. 9, 2006 and the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party on Oct. 10, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be preparing another round of nuclear detonation and long-range rocket launch at the same time. Observers say that North Korea is actually aiming at test firing a ballistic missile from a submarine, instead of nuclear and missile tests.

According to sources in the military on Friday, intelligence agencies of South Korea and the U.S. have obtained surveillance information providing signs of increased activities at the missile base in Tongchang-ri in North Pyongan Province with more people and vehicles, fueling speculation the country is preparing another long-range missile test.

Signs of suspicious activities have also been identified not only around the No.2 tunnel complex but also around the No.3 tunnel complex at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Hamgyong Province. North Korea conducted four nuclear tests at the No.2 tunnel but has not carried out any nuclear detonation at the No.3 tunnel yet. “38 North,” a U.S.-based monitoring company, said Thursday that satellite images dated Oct. 1 showed large objects, possibly trucks, as well as unidentified materials seen as construction materials near the entrance of No.2 tunnel complex and added that chances are high that the North will conduct its sixth nuclear test.

Amid increased speculation that North Korea is pushing ahead another major provocation, the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae said Friday that Cho Tae-yong, the deputy head of the National Security Council, is visiting the U.S. from Monday. It has been reported that Cho is meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken to discuss additional sanctions on the North by the U.N. Security Council in response to the North's fifth nuclear test.