While the U.S. and South Korean governments predict that North Korea's 7th nuclear test is imminent, no particular trend has been observed in Tunnel 3 of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site in North Hamgyong Province, which is a promising nuclear test site, and the construction of the access road to Tunnel 4 has also been halted again. .
Based on this, while the dominant analysis is that North Korea has completed all preparations for a nuclear test, there is also an observation that the possibility that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test at a third location cannot be ruled out.
According to the report 'Beyond Division', a media specialized in North Korea under the American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the 20th local time, as a result of the analysis of satellite images taken on the 17th, no special trend was observed around the Punggye-ri Tunnel 3.
"This appears to be because North Korea has completed all preparations for its 7th nuclear test, as predicted by both the US and South Korean governments," the report noted.
Both South Korea and the United States have predicted that North Korea will use Tunnel 3 if it conducts its 7th nuclear test.
In addition, it was found that the construction of the access road to the tunnel no. 4, which has been occasionally observed in the meantime, has been suspended again.
North Korea blew up Tunnels 2 and 4 of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site as part of a 'denuclearization trust measure' in May 2018, ahead of the first North Korea-U.S. summit, but North Korea was caught restoring the tunnel it had destroyed since the beginning of this year. it has been
In Tunnel 3, South Korea and the US intelligence authorities have determined that North Korea is virtually ready for a nuclear test since there has been no unusual trend since the move to prepare for a final nuclear test in early June.
Also, in the case of Tunnel 4, the access road construction was revealed intermittently, and it has been estimated that the intention was to extend the nuclear test to Tunnel 4 in addition to Tunnel 3, or it was a deceptive construction to disturb the view from the outside.
The report pointed out that "the construction of the access road for Tunnel 4 appears to have been halted again."
The report said, "The 7th nuclear test is almost certain to be conducted at the Punggye-ri test site. However, North Korea also has other sites to conduct a nuclear test, so the specific site will not be confirmed until a nuclear test is conducted." “, he added.
(Photo = Yonhap News)