"Concerns over North Korea's 7th Nuclear Test During US-South Korea Summit"..ICBM Deployment Near China Border Suspected

[Financial News] As President Lee Jae-myung and US President Donald Trump are set to hold their first US-South Korea summit on the 25th (local time), concerns have been raised about significant provocations such as North Korea's 7th nuclear test or missile launches. North Korea's last nuclear test was the 6th test conducted on September 3, 2017. North Korea's nuclear tests, which began in 2006, have been conducted a total of six times.
Additionally, it has been reported that North Korea has established a missile base equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and launch equipment in Sinpung-dong, Pyonganbuk-do, near the China border.
Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), mentioned on the 20th, "(North Korea) cannot be ruled out from taking some form of action next week," expressing concern that "it could even come out as a nuclear test."
He explained, "This is because three things are combined next week," saying, "First, of course, is the summit, second is the ongoing US-South Korea joint exercise (UFS - Ulchi Freedom Shield), and third is the lack of any contact or diplomacy between the US and North Korea."
Sid Seiler, Senior Advisor at CSIS, also stated, "It is always important to remember that North Korea, which has a million People's Army, is in the summer training period," adding, "During this period, there are additional displays of military power, missile launches, and artillery firing demonstrations." However, Seiler predicted that North Korea's provocations "are probably not in a lethal or physical form."
There was also a claim that a missile base equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and launch equipment has been established in Sinpung-dong, Pyonganbuk-do, 27 km away from the North Korea-China border.
'Beyond Parallel', a site specializing in Korean Peninsula issues under CSIS, released a report introducing the Sinpung-dong missile base in North Korea, based on satellite images taken on the 11th of last month, consisting of underground entrances, underground facilities, command, and support structures.
The report estimated that the construction of the base was carried out from 2004 to 2014, and since then, there may have been base improvement work related to the development of intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM) and ICBMs.
The report, while stating that details of the ballistic missile models deployed at the Sinpung-dong base have not been confirmed, revealed that initial analysis of satellite images suggests that a brigade-level unit equipped with 6 to 9 Hwasong-15 and 18 ICBMs capable of carrying nuclear warheads, or new ICBMs not yet disclosed, mobile missile launchers (TEL), or mobile launchers (MEL) is stationed there.
The report also added, "In the event of an emergency, it is judged that the launchers and missiles will leave the base, contact the warhead storage and transport unit, and perform launch operations from a pre-designated launch point."
It evaluated that "the Sinpung-dong missile base, along with other undisclosed strategic ballistic missile bases in North Korea, such as Hoejung-ri, Sangnam-ri, and Yongrim missile bases, is considered a key element in North Korea's evolving ballistic missile strategy and expanding nuclear deterrence and strike capabilities."
North Korea, which is estimated to operate about 15 to 20 ballistic missile bases, has never disclosed missile bases to the outside world, and the issue of handling missile bases has never been addressed in the denuclearization negotiations between North Korea and the US. The report pointed out that ballistic missiles located within North Korea's 'strategic missile belt', such as the Sinpung-dong base, could pose a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the US mainland.
rainman@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Kyung-soo