Conservative lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling Saenuri Party have been claiming that Seoul should consider more effective ways to curb Pyongyang’s provocations, especially after the communists’ regime conducted its fifth nuclear test earlier this month.
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“Assessment by South Korean and USA intelligence is that the North is always ready for an additional nuclear test in the Punggye-ri area”, the site of the North’s five nuclear explosions, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a news briefing.
A U.S. special envoy for the isolated state, Sung Kim, will travel to Seoul on Monday after discussing cooperation among neighbouring countries in Tokyo in the wake of the North’s latest nuclear test.
“North Korea went ahead with two nuclear tests in just nine months”.
Pyongyang’s assertions that it is able to miniaturize a nuclear warhead have never been independently verified.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea is capable of detonating another nuclear device at its main atomic test site any time it chooses, Seoul officials said Monday, as the United States reportedly planned to send two nuclear-capable supersonic bombers to the South in a show of force against Pyongyang. The United States has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.
The US special envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, said: “In addition to action in the Security Council, both the US and Japan, together with the Republic of Korea, will be looking at unilateral measures, as well as bilateral measures, as well as possible trilateral cooperation”.
China’s Hua said the North Korean nuclear issue can only be resolved through “dialogue and consultation”.
The crux of the issue lies with the United States not China, and China has made many efforts to uphold peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Monday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday a “creative” response was needed.
North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho left for Venezuela on Monday, where is is expected to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit.
A US special envoy for the isolated state, Sung Kim, will travel to Seoul on Monday.
And in another embarrassing set back for Barack Obama, the B-1B bombers have been delayed for at least 24 hours – due to the weather. The flight from the U.S. base in Guam would now take place on Tuesday, a U.S. Forces in Korea official told Reuters, declining to identify the type of aircraft involved. The U.N. Security Council is strongly condemning North Korea’s latest nuclear test.
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A push for further sanctions was “laughable”, North Korea said on Sunday, vowing to continue to strengthen its nuclear power.
