IAEA: World stalling over potential nuclear test by North Korea
According to the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the likelihood that North Korea would conduct a nuclear bomb test has the entire globe on edge.
After a five-year ban, officials in the United States and South Korea have warned for months that Pyongyang is preparing for a nuclear test, which would indicate North Korea is moving quickly to create advanced weaponry.
“Everyone is holding their breath about this,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Thursday. “Another nuclear test would be yet another confirmation of a programme which is moving full steam ahead, in a way that is incredibly, incredibly concerning.”
According to Grossi, “more tests, of course, means that they are honing the preparations and the creation of their armament.” “As a result, we are paying special attention to this. Although we hope it doesn’t happen, the signs, sadly, point in a different direction,” he remarked.
North Korea’s recent demonstration of its range of short- and long-range ballistic missile capabilities, which has left neighbors South Korea and Japan deeply concerned about North Korea’s intentions, has sparked fears of a nuclear bomb test, which would be their first detonation of a device since 2017.
The US, South Korea, and Japan declared on Wednesday that if North Korea conducts a seventh nuclear weapon test, an “unprecedented” level of response will be necessary.
The three partners “agreed that an unprecedented magnitude of response would be necessary if North Korea presses through with a seventh nuclear test,” South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong said at a news conference in Tokyo.
Cho spoke alongside US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori. Grossi of the IAEA stated he did not believe a test by North Korea was about to happen right away.
The Nuclear Posture Review for the United States for 2022 states, “Our strategy for North Korea recognizes the threat posed by its nuclear, chemical, missile, and conventional capabilities, and in particular, the need to make clear to the Kim regime the dire consequences should it use nuclear weapons.”
If President Trump were still in office…
Russia wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine.
Inflation would be below 2%.
The border would be secured.
China and North Korea would be scared into submission.
The world would be at peace.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) October 27, 2022
