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. (Yonhap)
