South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency says North Korea may be planning large-scale military exercises.
North Korea could hold large-scale military exercises in March or April and test a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), South Korean intelligence has told the country’s lawmakers, according to local media reports.
News of North Korea’s possible military exercises comes as the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog – the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – said “deeply worrying” signs of activity had been discovered at the North Korean nuclear test site Punggye-ri.
“The nuclear test site at Punggye-ri remains ready to support a nuclear test, and we continue to see signs of activity near Adit 3 of the test site,” IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement. a statement to the board of directors of his organization released Tuesday.
“The reopening of the nuclear test site is deeply troubling,” he said.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency (NIS) briefed members of its country’s legislature on Tuesday about possible large-scale military exercises by North Korea, reports of food shortages and the recent public appearances of the daughter of the country’s leader Kim Jong-un.
Citing a report that North Korea was facing an annual rice shortage of 800,000 tons, NOS said North Korea’s food shortages were not so severe as to be considered a threat to the regime. The spy agency blames the food shortage in the north on distribution problems and the consequences of COVID-19.
Last week, Kim urged officials in North Korea to meet agricultural production targets amid reports of a “serious” food situation in the country.
The South’s spy agency also said Kim’s daughter – Kim Ju Ae – who has appeared several times with her father in state media in recent months, was likely publicly promoted to indicate that Kim’s rule is dynastic. NIS intelligence officials said the most likely explanation behind the daughter’s appearance was that Kim wanted to promote the legitimacy of the fourth generation of the regime’s Kim family. Ju Ae’s first public appearance late last year sparked speculation that she was being groomed to become the next leader. Ju Ae is believed to be about 10 years old.
The intelligence agency also said that Kim’s first child is believed to be a son, and that the North Korean leader also has a third child whose gender is unknown. Unlike his younger sister, Kim’s son has not appeared in public, according to NOS.
Yun Kun-young of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party told reporters Tuesday after the intelligence briefing that it is possible that Pyongyang will also launch a reconnaissance satellite next month, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported.
The US and South Korean militaries are also currently preparing for large-scale military exercises later this month called Warrior Shield FTX and Freedom Shield.
North Korea has warned it is ready to take action to prevent the joint exercises from taking place.
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