Global Security Newswire | North Korea is prepared to detonate a third nuclear test device should its present efforts at diplomatic engagement prove unsuccessful, South Korea’s lead intelligence official said on Tuesday (see GSN, April 18).
National Intelligence Service head Won Sei-hoon told South Korean lawmakers that “another atomic test is always possible as (North Korea) has various nuclear test sites and construction of (new) sites is under way,” Agence France-Presse reported.
“I believe North Korea will use military action such as nuclear and missile (tests) to turn the tables if its current tack of dialogue fails,” Won said.
News reports in February indicated the North was excavating a minimum of two new tunnels at the site of its previous two nuclear tests, which were conducted in 2006 and 2009.