WASHINGTON (Reuters) – North Korea could carry out a seventh nuclear test “at any time” and has shown no intention of resuming negotiations, U.S. special envoy for North Korea Sung Kim said on Tuesday. highlights the recent increase in missile tests conducted by Pyongyang.
During a conference call with reporters, Sung Kim noted that North Korean officials have used rhetoric this year suggesting that Pyongyang plans to use tactical nuclear weapons.
He recalled that Washington was expecting a new North Korean nuclear test, without being able to decide on the possible timetable for such a test.
“On the calendar, I have nothing more. They have clearly made the preparations (…) They could carry out a test anytime”, said from Jakarta the one who is also the ambassador of the United States in Indonesia.
“North Korea has now launched 31 ballistic missiles in 2022, the most ballistic missiles ever launched in a single year, surpassing the previous record of 25 in 2019. And it’s only June,” Sung added. Kim.
The special envoy stressed Washington’s willingness to use diplomacy, without preconditions for negotiations with Pyongyang. However, he said, North Korea has so far “shown no indication that it is interested” in talks.
Sung Kim also said he hoped that China would contribute more in the future to efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.
(Report David Brunnstrom, Doina Chiacu and Simon Lewis; French version Jean Terzian, edited by Matthieu Protard)
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