N. Korea’s military provocations likely in Oct. including 4th nuclear test

North Korean soldiers attend military drills in this picture released by the North’s official KCNA news. (Yonhap/KCNA)

SEOUL, July 17 (Yonhap) — North Korea may launch military provocations in time with the founding anniversary of the country’s governing party in October, possibly including its fourth nuclear test, the Defense Ministry said Friday.

“With the communist country set to mark the 70th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s formation on Oct. 10, the North is likely to launch strategically motivated provocations,” the ministry said in its defense policy outline for 2015.

The North is keeping its Punggye-ri nuclear test site near the east coast ready for a quick nuclear test while a long-range missile launch pad in the western area nears completion for October, the ministry said of the prospects for military provocations.

The Punggye-ri site is where the communist country is believed to have conducted its past three nuclear detonation tests, including the latest one in 2013.

“There is the ever-present possibility of military provocations aimed at solidifying the regime and resetting the surrounding environment,” the ministry said.

North Korea is now awaiting extravagant anniversary celebrations for the founding day of the sole ruling party.

The communist country has often used external provocations on such an occasion in order to drum up unity and to flaunt military might inside.

To celebrate the anniversary, North Korea is now planning an extravagant military parade at the Mirim air base in Pyongyang, the ministry said.

“North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is now focusing on consolidating his one-man rule through his reign of terror and display of his accomplishments,” it said as the background of the lavish military event.

With the North asymmetrically increasing its nuclear and biochemical threats, South Korea will further build up its military power, it also noted.

The communist country is currently holding 13 kinds of weaponized fungus, with five of them highly likely to be turned into biochemical weapons, including anthrax, the ministry said, adding that the North is believed to have 5,000 tons of chemical weapons in stock.

The North has also beefed up its combat-ready posture near the border with the South, further empowering artillery deployment and fielding coastal defense cruise missiles near the inter-Korean sea border, it added.

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One Comment

1. Younghyun Kim

   July 18, 2015 at 4:04 AM

   Is the Republic of Korea still having troubles not putting its foot down against the henious or devilish military regime’s ongoing provocations towards international soceity and South Korea? As we are aware, the flagrant military regime had been being addictive to or becoming habituated to having no scruples about making light of South Korea’s all proper national identity.

   I, a weak and mere low-educated being, 김영현, encourage or urge the cruel North to set ["Our", "your" world colleagues, and my poor northern compatriots(including over 200.000 north korean political prisoners, who were being killed those each' mercilessly by Kim Jongun's barbaric and henious regime)] free, right away. And also, 김영현, a weak world worldling, calls for the whole countries to help those all to enjoy the sense of freedom, democracy, and human rights to the fullest before those all were murdered unlawfully by Kim Jongun and all his blind sycophants-like human scumbags.

   And once again, 연약한 김영현 equal a weak and uneducated world worldling can’t help arraigning/condemning South Korea and the nation/people for their apathy + ignorance and even its maladministration to save their poor northen people without making any pretexts + showing or coming up with any prerequisites, who were looking on with folded arms since its post-their fratricidal tragedy or war. Please all world innocent people help me/연약한 김영현/this weak world worldling to do/implement/carry out its small duty as a weak korean! 연약한 김영현, this weak and uneducated world worldling has no any authority or consolidated global power to rescue over 200.000 north korean political prisoners who are now in need. Good luck!

   2015. 07. 18. in seoul from Younghyun

   Reply