Seoul 30 Aug : Recent satellite images suggests that repairs to the principal nuclear testing site in Punggye-ri could be delayed because of flood damage an US monitor reported.The satellite images, captured on the 23rd of August, showed no activity of any significance at the Punggye-ri nuclear testing site According to Beyond Parallel the project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think group.
“No significant activity is detected in Tunnel No.3 of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Testing Facility.This is not a surprise since both the US and South Korea assess that North Korea has completed all preparations to conduct the nuclear test within this tunnel.
“Road construction for Tunnel No.4 is suspended, and damage from floods to the facility’s only access road is evident and is likely to be the result of the heavy rains over the last two months.” the report said Monday.
North Korea voluntarily dismantled the Punggye-ri facility in 2018 to demonstrate its willingness to denuclearize with the world community, according to Yonhap News Agency.
However, it is believed to have started repair work at the Punggye-ri nuclear facility, the site of its six nuclear tests thus far in the year prior to this.
Officials in Seoul and Washington have confirmed that the North might have concluded all preparations for nuclear tests, and that the nation’s recalcitrant government could conduct its seventh nuclear test “at anytime”.
Pyongyang carried out its sixth and final nuclear test in September 2017.
“Satellite images from August 24 2022, which shows no significant changes or developments to the area that is outside the entrance to Tunnel No.3.Inside, the US and South Korea have assessed that North Korea has completed all preparations to conduct an nuclear test.” Beyond Parallel said on its website.
“These sources have also concluded the fact that the choice to carry out the seventh nuclear test is entirely in the control of Kim Jong-un, who declared that the nuclear weapons are fully prepared to show its power to the fullest extent in the latter part of July,” it said.
