North Korea could be preparing to conduct a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri test site, according to new satellite imagery from a June 14 report by Beyond Parallel, per NBC News.
South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin said on June 13 that North Korea has completed its preparations to conduct the underground nuclear test.
"It is being observed that preparations for a nuclear test are completed, so now only a political decision remains," Park said.
"North Korea is currently prepared to conduct a nuclear test at any time in case Chairman Kim Jong-un decides to do so," an official from the South Korean Ministry of Unification added.
The satellite images showed construction of two tunnels, called Tunnel No. 3 and Tunnel No. 4, according to the Beyond Parallel report. Tunnel No. 3 had been under construction for a few months, but is now ready for a test.
"The refurbishment work and preparations at Tunnel No. 3, which began approximately four months ago, are apparently now complete and ready for an oft-speculated seventh nuclear test," the report said.
"New construction activity is noted at Tunnel No. 4, strongly suggesting an effort to reenable it for potential future testing," the report added.
Beyond Parallel reported that the new construction at Tunnel No. 4 is clear in their satellite images compared to pictures taken on May 17.
North Korea reportedly disabled the nuclear test site in 2018, but the tunnels were never actually demolished.
"A new caisson wall under construction and construction materials are observed near the entrance to the portal, which was previously collapsed during disabling in 2018," the report said. "The extent of actual damage inside the tunnels due to the disabling was unclear, and these new indicators of activity suggest that the disabling was not complete, as is the case with Tunnel No. 3."
Park spoke with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, D.C. earlier in the week, and said that North Korea should "change its mind" and not conduct a nuclear test for the seventh time.
"If North Korea ventures into another nuclear test, I think it will only strengthen our deterrence and also international sanctions," Park said, according to the Associated Press. "North Korea should change its mind and make the right decision."
Blinken added that the United States and its allies could adjust their military postures if North Korea were to go through with the nuclear test.
"We’re preparing for all contingencies this in very close coordination with others and we are prepared to make both short and longer-term adjustments to our military posture," Blinken said.
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