South Korea's military intelligence agency has issued a stark warning about potential provocations from North Korea. According to a closed-door briefing to lawmakers, North Korea appears ready to conduct its seventh nuclear test and is preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States.
The agency reported that preparations for a nuclear test at the Punggye-ri testing site in northeastern North Korea have likely been completed. The detonation is expected to occur in tunnel No. 3, marking the first such test since 2017.
In addition to the nuclear threat, intelligence suggests that North Korea is gearing up to test-launch an ICBM. Lawmakers who attended the briefing revealed that launch vehicles have been spotted in strategic locations, indicating that a test could take place as soon as November.
These developments come amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Since 2022, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accelerated the country's nuclear and missile programs, taking advantage of global attention focused on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol recently expressed concerns that North Korea might stage major provocations around the time of the U.S. election to increase pressure on Washington and its allies.
The potential ICBM test is particularly worrying, as it may be designed to verify the missile's ability to withstand atmospheric re-entry. Previous tests have been conducted at high angles to avoid neighboring territories, but experts speculate that North Korea might attempt a more realistic trajectory this time.
As the international community watches closely, the possibility of both nuclear and ICBM tests looms large, threatening to escalate tensions in an already volatile region.