The U.S. government has assessed that North Korea is prepared to conduct its seventh nuclear test, posing a grave threat to both regional stability and international peace.
Speaking at a panel discussion hosted by the Korea Society on November 22, Alexandra Bell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Affairs at the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability, denounced North Korea’s actions as reckless and destabilizing.
“The United States assesses that the DPRK [North Korea] has prepared its plenary test site for its potential seventh explosive nuclear test, awaiting only a political decision to move ahead,” she said. “Such a test would constitute a grave escalation of tensions in the region and present a security risk to the entire world.”
She added, “Less than a month ago, the DPRK’s reckless and destabilizing ICBM launch was another clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, as were all of the DPRK ballistic missile launches in recent years. They pose a threat to regional and international peace and security and undermine the global nonproliferation regime.”
Bell emphasized that the U.S. and South Korea will strengthen their cooperation to better prepare for defending against potential attacks from North Korea.
“Each missile launch, each nuclear rattling speech, is an indication that the DPRK is determined to advance its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs, underscoring the clear need to further grow and adapt our alliance with the ROK to better prepare to defend against potential attacks, including nuclear employment,” she said.
Bell affirmed that the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea remains ironclad and that its goal of “the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” remains unchanged.
“Any nuclear weapons attack by the DPRK against the Republic of Korea [South Korea] will be met with a swift, overwhelming and decisive response,” she emphasized.
Bell also addressed the broader security implications of growing North Korea-Russia cooperation, raising concerns about North Korean troops potentially participating in combat operations alongside Russian forces.
“We are concerned about the growing cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including the presence of DPRK troops in Russia, potentially engaging in combat operations with Russian forces,” she said.
Bell added that Russia has continued to use ballistic missiles and other material “unlawfully procured” from the DPRK to further its illegal and unprovoked assault on Ukraine.
“We are also very concerned that Russia is providing military assistance to the DPRK,” she said.
“Make no mistake, the strength of our alliance is more important than ever amid this growing relationship between Russia and the DPRK, our efforts to maintain strength, maintain and strengthen deterrence, must be parallel, paralleled by a continued charge toward diplomacy and dialog to resolve difficult security challenges.”
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
