North Korea’s nuclear test site ‘primed and ready’ as foreign media gather for ‘big event’
There is speculation that North Korea could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung on Saturday
North Korea is ready to conduct a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group reported as foreign journalists gathered in Pyongyang for “a big and important event”.
The 38 North analysis group described the test site as “primed and ready”.
“Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site’s Command Centre,” the North Korea-related analysis website said.
Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang for North Korea’s biggest national day called “Day of the Sun”. Officials gave no details of the big event and similar announcements in the past have been linked to relatively low-key set pieces.
A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.