“More and more, China treats North Korea as a threat to its national security and regional stability”, Mount said.
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Refusing to be intimidated, North Korea’s ruling party’s newspaper Rodong Sinmun hit back, saying: “Gone are the days, never to return, when the United States could make nuclear blackmail against the DPRK”. This resulted in the United States stopping all the aid programs which then the North Korea retaliated by withdrawing from the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) for nuclear weapons.
Following North Korea’s fifth nuclear test, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Monday that Kim Jong Un’s regime is ready to conduct another nuclear test any time.
“We assess that (North Korea) is prepared for a nuclear test in another shaft”, Defense Minister Han Min-koo told lawmakers Friday.
The nuclear test has been denounced by the United Nations Security Council, which is being pushed by the USA, the U.K., and France to impose fresh sanctions on the hermit kingdom.
Moon refused to say what specific evidence pointed to another possible nuclear test.
Yonhap news agency, citing unidentified Seoul government sources, reports there were signs the North has finished test preparations in an unused tunnel. Yonhap did not elaborate.
Seoul, Washington and their allies have pledged to apply more pressure and sanctions on Pyongyang after its latest nuclear test. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said China had an “important responsibility” in North Korea. She cited a Chinese saying _ “Whoever started the trouble should end it” _ in calling on the USA to “take on its due responsibility”.
Since Friday’s nuclear test South Korea has spoken publicly of its military capabilities and said it is prepared for a retaliation if it is attacked by the North.
A South Korean source said: “Indications have been gathered that the North has completed preparations to conduct a nuclear test at any time in the third tunnel that has not been used previously”.
Pyongyang has carried out two nuclear tests this year, as well as several tests of powerful missiles.
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The US said that any provocations from the North would come with “serious consequences”. Six-nation negotiations on dismantling the nuclear programme in exchange for aid were last held in late 2008 and fell apart in early 2009.
