Blue House monitoring North Korea closely for provocation around anniversary on Oct. 10

Posted on : 2016-10-08 11:49 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
In the past, North Korea has carried out nuclear tests or missile launches around major national holidays
Commercial satellite photos taken on Oct. 1
Commercial satellite photos taken on Oct. 1

The Blue House announced on Oct. 7 that it was “monitoring movements closely” in North Korea for a possible sixth nuclear test or long-range missile launch ahead of its Korean Workers’ Party anniversary on Oct. 10.

Blue House spokesperson Jeong Yeong-guk’s reply came when asked in a meeting with reporters that morning about the possibility of “additional provocations” from Pyongyang.

In the past, North Korea has held nuclear tests and missile launches around national holidays and anniversaries, including its first nuclear test a day before the KWP anniversary on Oct. 9, 2006. With its fifth nuclear test this year staged in time for the 68th anniversary of the North Korean government’s establishment on Sep. 9, analysts are suggesting the possibility of a sixth nuclear test or surprise SLBM or ICBM launch around the KWP anniversary cannot be ruled out.

“The Blue House and administration have had a quasi-national emergency system in place since immediately after North Korea’s fifth nuclear test,” a Blue House source said.

Indeed, the US-based North Korea website 38 North reported on Oct. 7 that continued movements had been observed at three tunnel portals at the nuclear test site in the village of Punggye in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province. From an analysis of commercial satellite photos taken on Oct. 1, the site reported the new discovery of a large object believed to be a truck near the North Portal where the fifth nuclear test was carried out last month, along with what appeared to be construction materials or boxes next to the portal building. According to the site, the activities could be associated with data collection or a tunnel portal closure in the wake of the fifth test, or with preparations for another test.

38 North also reported the presence of what appeared to be two small vehicles and a group of people near the South Portal, along with objects believed to be mining carts and a spoil pile at the West Portal. It remains unclear whether the activities captured were connected with nuclear testing, the site said.

By Choi Hye-jung, staff reporter and Park Byong-su, senior staff writer

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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