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Missile test in North Korea (archive image)
Photo: AP
North Korea had just openly threatened its neighbor to the south with a nuclear strike.
Now comes a warning from the United States: The regime in Pyongyang could plan a nuclear weapons test around North Korea's national day in mid-April.
"We are concerned that North Korea may be tempted to launch a new provocation in connection with the April 15 holiday," US special envoy for North Korea Sung Kim said on Wednesday.
"I don't want to speculate too much, but I think it could be another rocket launch, it could be a nuclear test."
On April 15, the country celebrates the 110th birthday of republic founder Kim Il Sung.
Pyongyang has not tested any nuclear weapons since 2017.
Most recently, however, ruler Kim Jong Un had a whole series of missile tests carried out, and the military also fired an ICBM for the first time since 2017.
US special envoy Kim said North Korea was ignoring US attempts to resume talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"We have had no replies from Pyongyang, which is very disappointing because we have sent several messages, both public and private, inviting them to an unconditional dialogue."
Dictator's sister threatens the South
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, said on Tuesday that nuclear weapons would be used against the neighbors in the event of an attack from South Korea.
“This isn't just a threat.
This is a detailed explanation of our response to possible reckless military action by South Korea," she said, according to a report by the state news agency KCNA.
At the end of March, North Korea launched a new long-range missile called the Hwasong-17.
It was the first major test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017. Kim said it was to demonstrate the power of his nuclear force and deter the US from any military move against North Korea.
With a range of likely more than 15,000 kilometers, according to the Japanese government, the North Korean missile could theoretically reach land targets anywhere on Earth except for a few countries in South America and parts of Antarctica.
jok/AFP
