In remarks carried in the Defense Ministry statement, Rear Adm. Kim called the recent South Korea-US exercises "reckless military provocations" that disregarded the North's "patience and warning." North Korea could carry out new missile tests to protest the South Korea-US-Japan drills because it views such training as a security threat. But South Korean Defense Minister, Lee Jong-Sup recently told lawmakers that the North's technology to build miniaturized warheads to be mounted on advanced short-range missiles was believed to have made considerable progress. Last Saturday, 38 North, a North Korea-focused website, said recent commercial satellite imagery of the North's main Yongbyon nuclear complex indicated a high level of activity, such as the continued operation of its 5-megawatt reactor and new construction around the uranium enrichment plant area.įoreign experts debate whether North Korea has functioning nuclear-armed missiles. If it does conduct a nuclear test, it would be its seventh detonation overall and the first since September 2017.ĭuring the warhead-related event last week, Kim also ordered officials to ramp up bomb fuel production to achieve his stated goal of expanding his country's nuclear arsenal "exponentially." Some observers say the warhead's unveiling may be a prelude to a nuclear test as North Korea's last two tests in 20 followed the disclosures of other warheads. The previous test flights of those weapons show they are capable of striking key targets in South Korea, including US military bases there. A poster on a nearby wall listed eight kinds of short-range weapons that can carry the "Hwasan-31" warhead. Photographs in North Korea's state media last week showed leader Kim Jong Un standing near about 10 red-tipped warheads called "Hwasan (volcano)-31" with different serial numbers. ![]() The weapons tested included a nuclear-capable underwater drone and a submarine-launched cruise missile, which suggest that the North is trying to diversify underwater weapons systems. Last month, North Korea performed a barrage of missile tests in response to the earlier South Korea-US bilateral military drills. By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
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