South Korea says North Korea prepared to conduct seventh nuclear test

South Korean intelligence agencies have assessed that North Korea maintains readiness to conduct its seventh nuclear test and could execute it swiftly if leader Kim Jong-un gives the order. The assessment was presented to lawmakers during a closed-door session of the Parliamentary Intelligence Committee, revealing that Pyongyang has completed necessary preparations at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

Imminent Testing Capability and Nuclear Infrastructure

According to lawmakers briefed on the intelligence, North Korea could rapidly conduct a nuclear test using the No. 3 tunnel at the Punggye-ri facility if Kim authorizes the action. The assessment further indicated that Pyongyang is intensifying efforts to secure nuclear materials and establishing various facilities dedicated to manufacturing nuclear warheads. North Korea's last underground nuclear test occurred in 2017, but recent satellite imagery and intelligence suggest renewed activity at nuclear sites.

Satellite Program and Broader Military Developments

The intelligence briefing also addressed North Korea's space ambitions, noting preparations for another spy satellite launch following a failed attempt in May 2024 when a rocket carrying a satellite exploded shortly after liftoff. Pyongyang successfully launched its first military spy satellite, the Malligyong-1, in 2023 and had pledged to deploy three additional satellites this year. These developments form part of a broader pattern of military modernization despite international sanctions.

International Context and Diplomatic Stance

The nuclear assessment emerges amid shifting international dynamics, with US President Donald Trump recently acknowledging North Korea as a "sort of nuclear power" and expressing openness to meeting with Kim Jong-un. Trump also suggested that nuclear testing activities extend beyond North Korea to include Russia and China. North Korea has operated under UN sanctions since the mid-2000s for its nuclear program, which it considers essential for national security and has repeatedly refused to dismantle.