“Neither Harris nor Trump will make us give up our nuclear weapons,” Kim Jong Un declared, as intelligence now signals North Korea is primed for nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
Just days before the U.S. presidential election, South Korean intelligence has dropped a bombshell: North Korea is fully prepped for its next nuclear and ballistic missile test. In a confidential briefing to lawmakers, South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency revealed that Kim Jong Un has completed “internal preparations” for another demonstration at the notorious Punggye-ri nuclear site, the scene of six past tests. This comes amid heightened tension as North Korea positions itself to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) potentially during America’s Election Day on November 5.
Kim’s message to the world is stark and unapologetic. Following his recent inspection of the Hwasong-18 ICBM base, Kim has ordered his forces to maintain a “counteraction posture,” keeping nuclear missiles at the ready. This display of defiance targets the United States with an explicit message: a change in leadership will not deter Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.
Intelligence suggests North Korea has the capability to launch an ICBM capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. The Hwasong-18 missile, capable of traveling an astonishing 9,320 miles, would be able to strike anywhere in the continental U.S. A demonstration of this missile’s might, coupled with an underground nuclear test, would send shockwaves through global security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Though North Korea claimed in 2018 that its Punggye-ri nuclear site was no longer in use, signs of fresh construction and test preparations in the area have surfaced, underscoring Pyongyang’s resolve. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimates that North Korea possesses roughly 50 nuclear weapons, with fissile material for nearly 90 warheads.
With the world watching closely, North Korea’s actions have once again placed it at the heart of global security concerns. As Election Day draws near, the U.S. and its allies brace for what could be a momentous and destabilizing escalation by one of the world’s most unpredictable nuclear powers.
Sources for this article include:
Reports from South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency, insights from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and official statements from North Korean media.
