US sees N.Korea nuclear test ‘as early as this month’

The United States stated on Friday that it believes North Korea is prepared to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017.

The State Department made its judgment public amid growing US dissatisfaction with North Korea, which has conducted a series of missile launches.

“The United States assesses that the DPRK is preparing its Punggye-ri test site and could be ready to test there as early as this month,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter said, referring to North Korea by its official name.

“This assessment is consistent with the DPRK’s own recent public statements,” she told reporters.

“We have shared this information with allies and partners and will continue closely coordinating with them as well.”

US President Joe Biden later this month travels to Japan and South Korea where concerns about Pyongyang are expected to be high on the agenda.

A North Korean test could coincide with Biden’s visit or with the May 10 inauguration in South Korea of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who has vowed to take a harder line on Pyongyang.

North Korea carried out six nuclear tests before embarking on unusually high-profile diplomacy with the United States, with former president Donald Trump meeting four times with leader Kim Jong Un.

Despite Trump’s declarations that the two “fell in love,” their meetings produced no permanent agreement on dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program.

North Korea has showed little interest in restarting talks with the Biden administration, which favours Pyongyang diplomacy but only on a working level.