North Korea’s Plans for Nuclear Test During U.S. Presidential Election
North Korea is gearing up to conduct a nuclear test around the time of the U.S. presidential election to boost its international standing and influence. The country has completed preparations for the test, aiming to showcase advancements in warheads and potentially test new bombs for different delivery systems. With an estimated 80 to 90 warheads currently, North Korea hopes to increase this number to 100-300 in the long term.
In response, the U.S. and South Korea have signed joint nuclear deterrence guidelines to better address North Korea’s nuclear threats. This includes enhancing communication on nuclear operations and integrating South Korea’s conventional weapons with American nuclear weapons for retaliation. The U.S. has pledged to use all capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend South Korea.
Additionally, South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. are collaborating to standardize missile detection and interception systems to track missiles fired from North Korea. The cooperation between North Korea and Russia could further embolden North Korea in carrying out the test, with concerns rising in the region following a defense pact between North Korea and Russia.
Official contacts between North and South Korea have dwindled, with North Korea abandoning the goal of reunification between the two countries. Stay informed with sources like Time, ABC News, and The Japan Times.