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Raphael Grossi, Secretary-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will visit Korea tomorrow (the 14th).

Amid heightened international concerns that North Korea will conduct its 7th nuclear test, we heard from Secretary General Grossi about the current situation in North Korea.



This is reporter Kim Ah-young.



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Among the four tunnels at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, tunnels No. 3 in the south and No. 4 in the west have never been tested.



IAEA Secretary General Rafael Grossi said that under the current situation, Tunnel No. 3 is ready for a nuclear test, and Tunnel No. 4 is still under work.



[Raphael Grossi/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretary General: If you combine satellite photos and other information, you can see that Tunnel No. 4 is not ready.

Of course, we can continue to progress.

But as of now, the information we have is that only mine 3 is ready.]



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While not ruling out the possibility of a series of nuclear tests, it assessed that more time is still needed for this.



After mentioning that North Korea had successfully launched an ICBM-class Hwasong-17 last month, it was concerned that North Korean missiles were threatening not only the US mainland but also other continents.



The operation of nuclear facilities other than Yongbyon was also suggested.



[Rafael Grossi/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretary General: There are indications of other places.

I think it would be correct to say that the activities are underway in a broader scope.]



The IAEA said that it has achieved the result of having staff stationed at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in the middle of the battlefield through mediation between Ukraine and Russia, and it is expected that it will play a role in the North Korean nuclear issue as well. I did.



[Rafael Grossi/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretary General: I look forward to having the opportunity to talk with the North Korean leader there (North Korea).

Progress must be made.

It is very important to find a way and the IAEA to play a role (in this process).]



Secretary-General Grossi, who will visit Korea tomorrow, will meet with Foreign Minister Jin Park to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue and the issue of handling contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.