Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - South Korea is working closely with the United States to analyze the "very important test" that the North claims to have conducted two days ago. This was announced this morning by the Defense Ministry of Seoul.
The North Korean regime declared yesterday that it had successfully completed a test at the Sohae satellite launch base. The facility is located in Dongchang-ri, in the northern province of North Pyongyan - on the border with China.
Pyongyang did not provide details on the test, but stressed that the results "will have an important effect on changing the strategic position of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the near future".
South Korean Defense spokeswoman, Choi Hyun-soo, said during a press briefing: " We are aware of North Korea's announcement. In close coordination with the U.S., we keep close tabs on moves in major sites in North Korea, including the Dongchang-ri site. However, the official refused to make the initial assessment of the test public.
Experts claim that the North has tested a new type of engine for long-range rockets or intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM): the Joint Command (JCS) of the South Korean Armed Forces has stated that nothing has been fired from the site and recent satellite images show signs of preparations for a test on the engine. The latest North Korean activities regarding ICBM weapons are approaching the end-of-year deadline that Pyongyang has imposed on Washington, to show the flexibility needed to advance the talks on denuclearization.
In November 2017, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced the interruption of all nuclear and ICBM tests, which Trump advertised as one of his most important diplomatic achievements. Kim's self-imposed moratorium did not cover missile engine tests. But UN Security Council (UN) resolutions forbid Pyongyang from testing equipment that could be used to build ballistic missiles.
With the negotiations stalled, in recent months North Korea has carried out a series of tests involving mainly short-range missiles. The last occurred on November 28 last, when the regime verified the operation of an impressive multi-launch missile system.
