Seoul intelligence speaks of "intensified activities" around Punggye-ri nuclear site. And State press accuses Washington of "reactionary and dangerous" policies in East Asia. The U.S. president’s visit to Asia begins today, in Japan. Then comes the turn of Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Seoul (AsiaNews ) - A few days ahead of the U.S. President's arrival on the Korean peninsula, the Pyongyang regime "has intensified its activities" around the Punggye -ri nuclear site. Anonymous South Korean intelligence sources report fears of a new nuclear test during Barack Obama's visit to Seoul. North Korea "could do so, or pretend to do so, to raise its stakes on its return to negotiations on its disarmament".

To date, the government in Pyongyang has conducted three unauthorized nuclear tests: in 2006, 2009, and 2013. The last one, in February of last year, resulted in a new tightening of international sanctions on the country, one of the poorest in the world. The South Korean Defence Chief has set up a team of experts to monitor the situation, however, given that it is impossible to enter the country, it is very difficult to monitor the North's progress.

The regime led by Kim Jong-un does not deny its hostile intents. Yesterday in the official Workers' Party daily paper the Rodong Sinmun, an editorial described Obama's visit to Korea "a reactionary and extremely dangerous act, leading to the dark clouds of nuclear war". Citing a senior representative of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the journal continues: " The U.S is most aggressive toward the Chosun Peninsula and unceasingly engages in threatening joint military drills [traditional name of Korea-ed] , and continues to threaten us with ongoing military exercises".

Consequently, according to the Sinmun, "the policy position of our Republic is to accelerate efforts to strengthen fair, self-defensive controls that can decisively cope with the hostility directed toward us by the U.S. If the U.S. continually tries to sacrifice our national profit then in the end a negative outcome would emerge for the U.S. regime, too".

Obama's visit is part of an extensive tour of the East Asian countries starting today from Japan. The U.S. President's arrival in Seoul is scheduled for April 25th: He will remain for three days, before travelling on to Malaysia and finally the Philippines.

 

• KORE
• USA
• Pyongyang
• nuclear
• test
• Obama
• visit
• sanctions