North Korea preparing for first nuclear test since 2017

North Korea is preparing for its first nuclear test since 2017, according to the United Nations. Most recently, construction work on an underground test facility in the north of the country had been observed: "The work at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site paves the way for further nuclear tests to develop nuclear weapons," said a previously confidential UN expert report, parts of which were made available to German Press Agency.

Satellite imagery suggested North Korea was repairing its network of tunnels at Punggye-ri, as well as rebuilding buildings on the site demolished in 2018 during negotiations with the United States. According to the U.N. report, which covers the period of recent months, fissile material production capacity at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility has also been ramped up.

For months, observers have feared that power leader Kim Jong Un's first nuclear test in nearly five years could be imminent after numerous missile tests. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had already referred to activities in Punggye-ri in June. North Korea had conducted six test explosions there between 2006 and 2017.

The country does not allow international inspections at the site. North Korea has already fired more than 30 ballistic missiles - including several intercontinental ballistic missiles - in violation of UN Security Council resolutions this year, according to UN figures.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres had spoken only on Monday, also in view of North Korea's nuclear program, of the world being in a "time of nuclear danger, the like of which has not been seen since the height of the Cold War." Humanity, he said, is in danger of forgetting the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "Today, humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation."

North Korea continues to fund its nuclear program, according to U.N. experts, with hacking attacks in which computer specialists funnel money to Pyongyang by stealing data. They would have captured "hundreds of millions of dollars" in cryptocurrencies. The country is also exporting coal, contrary to UN sanctions against the autocracy.

Kim Jong Un wants to use the missile tests and his nuclear program to increase pressure on the global community to lift sanctions. At the same time, diplomacy with the United States has been at a standstill since Kim's failed second summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2019. North Korea then repeatedly made it clear that it was not interested in new talks until Washington submitted new proposals.

In the UN Security Council, the United States had failed in May with a resolution for tougher international sanctions against Pyongyang. Russia and China vetoed the vote in New York.

North Korea is preparing for its first nuclear test since 2017, according to the United Nations. Most recently, construction work on an underground test facility in the north of the country had been observed: "The work at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site paves the way for further nuclear tests to develop nuclear weapons," said a previously confidential UN expert report, parts of which were made available to German Press Agency.

Satellite imagery suggested North Korea was repairing its network of tunnels at Punggye-ri, as well as rebuilding buildings on the site demolished in 2018 during negotiations with the United States. According to the U.N. report, which covers the period of recent months, fissile material production capacity at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear facility has also been ramped up.

For months, observers have feared that power leader Kim Jong Un's first nuclear test in nearly five years could be imminent after numerous missile tests. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had already referred to activities in Punggye-ri in June. North Korea had conducted six test explosions there between 2006 and 2017.

The country does not allow international inspections at the site. North Korea has already fired more than 30 ballistic missiles - including several intercontinental ballistic missiles - in violation of UN Security Council resolutions this year, according to UN figures.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres had spoken only on Monday, also in view of North Korea's nuclear program, of the world being in a "time of nuclear danger, the like of which has not been seen since the height of the Cold War." Humanity, he said, is in danger of forgetting the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "Today, humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation."

North Korea continues to fund its nuclear program, according to U.N. experts, with hacking attacks in which computer specialists funnel money to Pyongyang by stealing data. They would have captured "hundreds of millions of dollars" in cryptocurrencies. The country is also exporting coal, contrary to UN sanctions against the autocracy.

Kim Jong Un wants to use the missile tests and his nuclear program to increase pressure on the global community to lift sanctions. At the same time, diplomacy with the United States has been at a standstill since Kim's failed second summit with former U.S. President Donald Trump in February 2019. North Korea then repeatedly made it clear that it was not interested in new talks until Washington submitted new proposals.

In the UN Security Council, the United States had failed in May with a resolution for tougher international sanctions against Pyongyang. Russia and China vetoed the vote in New York.

Photo by Bill Jelen