|
|
|
|
'N.Korea could be delaying nuclear test because of China, Covid'
|
|
|
|
| Top Stories |
 |
|
|
|
IANS | 22 Jun, 2022
North
Korea could be pushing back what would be its seventh nuclear test in
consideration of China's political calendar and its own situation with
Covid-19, a South Korean presidential official said Wednesday.
North
Korea has been reported for weeks to be "preparing for a nuclear test"
at its testing ground in Punggye-ri, with the only remaining step being a
"political decision" by leader Kim Jong-un, Yonhap news agency
reported.
"I think the China variable and the Covid-19 variable
are playing into this," the official told reporters, citing the upcoming
20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in the fall.
"It
appears that North Korea is making a considerable effort out of concern
for the major chaos that would be caused by a seventh nuclear test,
although we haven't been able to verify it," he said.
China is
North Korea's "only major political ally and economic benefactor",
meaning that staging a large provocation ahead of a key political event
could hurt Pyongyang's relations with Beijing.
The other factor behind holding off could be the seriousness of the Covid-19 outbreak in the North, the official added.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Customs Exchange Rates |
| Currency |
Import |
Export |
US Dollar
|
₹95.3
|
₹93.6 |
UK Pound
|
₹127.7
|
₹123.7 |
Euro
|
₹110.65
|
₹106.9 |
| Japanese
Yen |
₹59.75 |
₹57.9 |
| As on 24 Jun, 2026 |
|
|
| Daily Poll |
 |
 |
| What’s your biggest challenge with the 45-day payment rule? |
|
|
|
|
|
| Commented Stories |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|