N. Korea hints at nuclear test, a tryout rather than to cast chill

North Korea hinted at firing long range rockets and also possibility of a nuclear test. This came three weeks after the agreement made on August 25 to proceed a meeting between high ranking officials from both Koreas. The actions are expected to be made around October 10 when an event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the launch of the Workers’ Party is held.

Pyongyang`s Korea Central News Agency said Tuesday, "All the nuclear facilities in Yongbyon including the uranium enrichment plant and 5 MW graphite-moderated reactor were rearranged, changed or readjusted and they started normal operation," quoting the director of its atomic agency. "If the U.S. and other hostile forces persistently seek their reckless hostile policy towards North Korea and behave mischievously, we are fully ready to cope with them with nuclear weapons any time."

The South Korean government is paying close attention to the possibility of North Korea launching long range rocket disguised as satellite claiming the ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the launch of the Workers’ Party. “This could be a game changer of the North trapped in suppression and alienation by its choice,” said Kim Sung-han, professor at Korea University Graduate School of International Studies and former foreign affairs deputy minister. He meant that this could serve as a game changer where the North Korean regime can worsen its crisis state.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on September 2 at a summit meeting and shared common ground by speaking up that the North should stop nuclear test and missile firing that the U.N. Security Council bans. Against this background, Xi and U.S. President Barack Obama will meet for a summit on September 25 and a South Korea-U.S. presidential summit will be held on October 16. If North Korea attempts provocation despite warnings from the international society, China won’t be able to stay calm.

A notable point is that North Korea isn’t giving prior notice through neither through statements and isn’t giving exact dates as had been done. The messages delivered by directors of the North`s atomic agency and space development agency by answering to reporters’ questions also are not equivalent to official announcements or statements. Speculations are thus rising that the North is floating an ad balloon to earn time and monitor trends in engaged countries.

zeitung@donga.com