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North Korea has been keeping busy the past week. After banning citizens from using sarcasm and executing an official for poor posture, the country flexed its military muscles by conducting its largest nuclear test to date. Now, South Korean officials believe another test is imminent, and they’re “getting ready for the worst case scenario,” as reported by CNN.
The recent nuclear test resulted in condemnation as a direct violation of UN sanctions after the explosion caused a 5.3 magnitude earthquake. The country has only had five tests since 2006, and South Korea believes they could launch another one shortly. Five may not seem like a lot, but North Korea has an unpredictable streak, and knowing they have a nuclear bomb in their arsenal is frightening. Reuters quotes South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun, who says North Korea has covert ways of launching tests and spotted increased activity before the last test:
“Assessment by South Korean and U.S. intelligence is that the North is always ready for an additional nuclear test in the Punggye-ri area. North Korea has a tunnel where it can conduct an additional nuclear test.”
South Korea has been pushing for additional sanctions against the country, on top of the ones the U.N. Security Council approved (in March) as backed by China and Russia. But the two countries have been ambivalent about supporting new sanctions, which has some nervous. Frustrated South Korean officials state how countries should “play a very constructive role to come up with a very effective and strong sanctions resolution.”