'N.Korea could be delaying nuclear test because of China, Covid'

Top Stories

»	India’s textile sector is a powerful job-creating engine of growth: PM Modi
»	India, EU likely to clinch FTA deal by Jan 27
»	Stock market decline continues over weak global cues, FII selling
»	India, UAE target doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032
»	PLI booster: India’s electronics exports cross Rs 4.15 lakh crore for 1st time in 2025, up 37 pc

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.