N. Korea may conduct nuclear test to divert internal attention from food crisis: Seoul ministry
North Korea may stage various provocations, including a nuclear test, to divert its public's attention from the country's ongoing food crisis, South Korea's defense ministry said Tuesday.
The ministry made the assessment in a policy report for a parliamentary audit amid growing tensions after North Korea revised its constitution late last month to stipulate the policy of strengthening its nuclear force.
"In order to pass on internal complaints of food woes and failures in economic policy to the outside world, there is a possibility of (the North) conducting various strategic and tactical provocations, including a seventh nuclear test," the ministry said in the report.
The isolated regime, which has faced chronic food shortages, last conducted a nuclear test in September 2017.
The ministry also assessed that the North is expected to make efforts to successfully launch a military spy satellite this month as planned.
North Korea announced plans for the launch after its attempts to put the satellite, named the Malligyong-1, in orbit in May and August ended in failures.
The ministry also said the North Korean military appears to be focusing on supporting farming efforts during the harvest period, noting that it has not staged a large-scale exercise near the border after its summertime drills.
In addition, the ministry vowed to bolster the country's defense capabilities against North Korean threats, with plans to complete exploratory development of the low-altitude missile defense system, designed to intercept North Korean artillery shells, by August next year.
The ministry outlined efforts to strengthen combined military drills with the United States, such as staging their regular springtime Freedom Shield exercise in March next year for 11 straight days.
The allies also plan to develop the regular Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise in the second half of the year so that it proceeds under a scenario of a North Korean nuclear attack, it added. (Yonhap)
(责任编辑:부모와 아이)
下一篇:One Store attracts W20b from Krafton
- ·SK Ecoplant recycles over 6,000 tons of batteries
- ·S. Korea joins ICRC's major donor group for 1st time
- ·S. Korea to review additional measures against N. Korea's arms transfer to Russia
- ·[Coffee Klatch] Take a sip of Turkish coffee in Seoul
- ·Japan thanks S. Korea for Israel rescue effort
- ·[KH Explains] Amazon's cloud industry plans raise fears of Korean market monopoly
- ·BOK expected to stand pat this week over growth risks: experts
- ·[New in Korean] Witches, ecofeminism, climate crisis: Tale of resilience and nature’s power
- ·[view] 민심 더 싸늘해지는데…감동 없는 김기현 2기
- ·BIFF expands award categories beyond Asian content to global titles
- ·Questions remain after passage of anonymous birth bill
- ·N.SSign to resume album promotion without Doha
- ·Reeling from election loss, ruling party picks new leader posts
- ·'Frasier' returns to TV but you don't need to be a superfan of the original to laugh at its jokes
- ·Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation
- ·Performing Arts Market to link local artists to world
- ·Over 1,300 rescue workers still traumatized by Itaewon Halloween tragedy
- ·[From the scene] Eye
- ·오세훈, ‘TBS 폐지’ 묻자 “그런 일 생겨서는 안 돼”
- ·LG develops key OLED material to reduce reliance on imports
- ·Art Token launches Hangeul
- ·Art Token launches Hangeul
- ·Gimbap and hanja cramming: Life of Korean Studies students in Paris
- ·[Test Drive] BMW 5 Series makes more powerful, elegant comeback
- ·Big firms' debt
- ·[Our Museums] Explore cinematic treasures at Korean Film Museum
- ·GOT7’s Youngjae to release 1st solo LP “Do It” next month
- ·33년 경찰 경력 내세워…“안심구청장 누구입니까”