An expert has warned that North Korea will threaten the world with supersized nuclear weapons.
Senior analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies Cha Du-hyeogn told The Korea Times that after abandoning peace talks, North Korea could test its new weapons and then unveil them.
He said: “Among the top priorities, the ‘supersized’ nuclear warhead is the only weapon that has not been revealed. After his announcement, North Korea may move to test it before unveiling it to the world.”
According to reports, the last time North Korea conducted a nuclear test in 2017, the bomb had a yield five times larger than the atomic weapons dropped on Nagasaki in 1945.
Despite the fears of an escalation in tensions between North Korea and the rest of the world, some experts believe this isn’t a precursor to war, but a way to convince the USA to recognise it as a significant threat.
Researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification Kim Jin-ha explained: “It is important to keep in mind that North Korea is doing all this to pressure US politicians to recognize it as a significant threat they should deal with.
“To convince them, North Korea could test its tactical nuclear weapon or test-launch its intercontinental ballistic missile at a normal angle (instead of a high angle) to demonstrate its ability to strike the U.S. mainland.”
Mr Jin-ha added that North Korea could test-fire its underwater drones that are each “capable” of carrying nuclear warheads.
The expert’s comments come after North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un, announced that he wanted “overwhelming” war readiness with the US and South Korea.
The dictator said he wanted to create a “reliable foundation” as he tried to convert existing submarines into “tactical nuclear attack submarines” to be used in anger after tensions escalated in the region.
Earlier this week, North Korea decided to launch 200 shells at South Korean island Yeonpyeong, home to a key military base. In response, Seoul retaliated by launching 400 rounds of its own during a live-fire drill.
Following the altercation, South Korea’s Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said their military “must assume…readiness”.
Mr Won-sik explained: “North Korea resuming its artillery fire drills inside the non-hostility zone this morning is an act of provocation which threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and raises tension.
“Our military must assume the readiness to completely wipe out the enemy so that they wouldn’t dare another provocation, and to back up the pace through strength.”
