(Photo : STR/AFP via Getty Images)
According to a recent UN draft report, North Korea has increased the size of its weapons testing facilities, suggesting that it may soon resume conducting nuclear weapons tests.
According to classified United Nations report, North Korea planned a nuclear test during the first six months of this year.
The US has long warned that North Korea is preparing to conduct a seventh nuclear test and has stated that if this occurs it will try to increase UN sanctions on Pyongyang.
North Korea Prepares For Atomic Tests
The UN monitors also stated that investigations had revealed Pyongyang was responsible for plundering hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency assets in at least one significant breach. North Korea has already been accused by observers of conducting cyber assaults to support its nuclear and missile programs.
The UN Security Council has for years prohibited North Korea from conducting nuclear testing and ballistic missile launches and has stepped up sanctions against Pyongyang to attempt to cut off funds for those projects. North Korea fired 31 missiles combining ballistic and guidance technology, including six intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) tests and two missiles specifically labeled as ballistic weapons.
North Korea continued to purchase oil and export coal illegally, avoiding sanctions, according to the monitors. International negotiations to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs have essentially frozen since 2019, Reuters reported.
According to the analysts, the DPRK began re-excavation operations at the entrance of Tunnel 3 at Punggye-ri in March and repaired support buildings initially removed in May 2018.
Analysts claimed in September that satellite photographs showed North Korea expanding a uranium enrichment unit at its major Yongbyon nuclear complex, indicating that it wanted to increase production of the critical bomb material.
Kim Jong Un Expands Ballistic Missile Program
Nuclear talks between the US and North Korea have been stuck since 2019 because of disputes over Pyongyang's desire to relieve punishing US-led sanctions and Washington's demand for major measures toward nuclear disarmament.
Despite the diplomatic pause, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expanded his ballistic missile program, and analysts believe another nuclear test would escalate his brinkmanship aimed at cementing the North's status as nuclear power and negotiating economic and security concessions from a position of strength.
The DPRK continued to accelerate its missile programs, launching 31 missiles combining ballistic and guidance technologies, including six ICBMs and two explicitly described as ballistic weapons, and claiming to have advanced its development of tactical nuclear weapons, as per ABC News.
According to two security council members, preparations for a nuclear test were nearing completion in early June. Pyongyang continues to engage in massive hacking and other cyberattacks, taking millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. Kimsuky, a hacker outfit headed by North Korea's spy service, was behind these attacks. According to the study, North Korea is smuggling large volumes of refined petroleum products across its borders.
Imports from UN member nations reached just 8.15 percent of the yearly quota of 500,000 barrels established by a UN Security Council resolution on July 27. However, North Korea has purchased around 458,898 barrels, which is close to the limit, according to Express.
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