Pyongyang could resume its nuclear tests this year to force Washington to dialogue, estimated the American intelligence services in their annual report on threats against the United States in the world, published this Tuesday, April 13.
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“
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could take aggressive and potentially destabilizing steps to shift the balance of power in the region and create dissension between the United States and its allies, including through resumption of testing. nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles (ICBM)
”, indicates this report of the direction of the American intelligence (DNI).
"
We believe that Kim sees nuclear weapons as the ultimate deterrent against foreign intervention and that he is convinced that he will eventually gain the respect of the international community
" when North Korea becomes a nuclear power, the officials say. intelligence services in this document.
North Korea has not tested a long-range missile for more than three years, and has left the door open to negotiations with the United States over the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
But "
Kim could consider resuming long-range or nuclear missile tests this year in an attempt to force the United States to negotiate with him on Pyongyang terms,
" they add.
The 27-page report, written on April 9, 2021, also discusses Iran's nuclear program, anticipating the decision announced Tuesday by Tehran to start enriching uranium to 60%.
"
We continue to believe that Iran is not currently carrying out the key activities that we consider necessary to produce a nuclear weapon
", indicate the American intelligence services.
"
If Tehran does not get sanctions relief, Iranian officials will likely consider options ranging from 60% uranium enrichment to building a new 40 megawatt heavy water reactor
," they add. .
Read also: North Korean warning to the Biden administration
Iran announced on Tuesday its intention to "
start enriching uranium to 60%
", a level that would bring it closer to a military use capacity, two days after a "
sabotage
" of its Natanz enrichment plant, that Tehran imputes to Israel.
The Iranian nuclear agreement, concluded in 2015 in Vienna between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Group of Six (China, United States, France, United Kingdom, Russia and Germany), provides that Tehran agrees to modify its Arak heavy water reactor, under the control of the international community, so as to make it impossible to produce plutonium for military use.
