Is North Korea Preparing For Next Ballistic Missile Test?

North Korea is likely to be readying another ballistic missile launch following its sixth nuclear test Sunday.

South Korea’s military has observed, what it infers as the preparation for a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile test, Chang Kyung-soo, a South Korean Defense Ministry official was quoted as saying to lawmakers by The New York Times Monday.

Following the launch, North Korea had announced that it has a nuclear weapon with varying explosive power from 10 Kilotons to 100 Kilotons which could be launched from an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM).

However, days earlier, Pyongyang had tested, what experts said, was an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). It needs an ICBM if it were to target the US mainland with its nuclear weapon.

The nuclear test came after North threatened the American territory of Guam and weeks of missile tests, including launches demonstrating that North Korea had the capability to reach much of the United States.

The South Korean military carried out drills Monday in response to the test, with F-15K fighter jets and ground forces firing missiles in a simulated attack on the North’s nuclear site.

The South Korean defense minister, Song Young-moo, also said Monday that in recent talks he had asked the US to deploy strategic assets including an aircraft carrier group and bombers. However, It is clear what sort of missile North Korea was preparing for a possible test.