6th Nuclear Test Immediately After Model Reveal
Yoon: "Won't Give a Penny if They Develop Nukes"
Joo Ho-young Also Calls for "Nuclear Sharing"
North Korea has revealed the actual tactical nuclear warhead for the first time and conveyed General Secretary Kim Jong-un's statement that "we must be prepared to use nuclear weapons anytime and anywhere." This is why the possibility of a '7th nuclear test' is being mentioned soon, considering that a model of a long cylindrical nuclear warhead was also unveiled just before the 6th nuclear test in 2017. The ruling party and government are taking a 'hardline' stance. President Yoon Suk-yeol raised his voice, saying, "If they pursue nuclear development, not a single won will be given," and Joo Ho-young, the ruling party's floor leader, also mentioned 'NATO-style nuclear sharing.'
On the 28th, after receiving a report on the publication of the North Korean human rights report from Unification Minister Kwon Young-se at the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon instructed, "The Ministry of Unification must stop giving aid to North Korea from now on," and "Make it clear that not a single won can be given while North Korea is pursuing nuclear development," said Lee Do-woon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office.
Amid North Korea's escalation of nuclear threats by unveiling tactical nuclear warheads that day, this was interpreted as showing a firm stance on North Korean nuclear weapons. Floor leader Joo also raised his voice at the morning floor countermeasure meeting, saying, "Nuclear weapons can only be deterred by nuclear weapons," and "Ahead of President Yoon's state visit to the U.S., tactical nuclear redeployment and NATO-style nuclear sharing plans must be discussed."
That morning, North Korea's state media announced General Secretary Kim's 'guidance on the nuclear weaponization project' and suddenly revealed actual tactical nuclear warheads and photos. More than ten actual tactical nuclear warheads were revealed through photos, and panels on the wall presented eight delivery systems (mounted weapons) for the tactical nuclear warhead named 'Hwasan-31.' A photo also showed General Secretary Kim standing right next to the tactical nuclear warhead, receiving a report from officials.
The significance of North Korea's unveiling of tactical nuclear warheads lies in the suggestion of a possible 7th nuclear test. In the past, the sequence was nuclear warhead model unveiling → nuclear test during the 5th and 6th nuclear tests. On March 9, 2016, North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun reported on General Secretary Kim's inspection of a nuclear weapons research institute and released several photos, including one where Kim was examining a circular object about one meter in diameter with scientists. North Korea claimed this circular object was a miniaturized nuclear warhead that could be mounted on the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'KN-08,' but South Korean military authorities downplayed it, saying, "North Korea has not yet secured miniaturized nuclear warheads." Six months later, on September 9, North Korea conducted its 5th nuclear test.
The following year, on the morning of September 3, 2017, Rodong Sinmun claimed to have developed a hydrogen bomb that could be mounted on the ICBM-class 'Hwasong-14' and published photos of General Secretary Kim inspecting a long cylindrical nuclear warhead. At around noon that day, North Korea completed the 6th nuclear test and announced, "We have successfully conducted a test of a hydrogen bomb for ICBM mounting." The 6th nuclear test was the largest in scale among all tests conducted so far, with an artificial earthquake magnitude reaching 5.7.
Jung Sung-jang, head of the Unification Strategy Research Division at the Sejong Institute, pointed out, "Today's Rodong Sinmun report is very similar to the report before North Korea conducted the 6th nuclear test on September 3, 2017," and added, "The title of the 2017 Rodong Sinmun article was 'Respected Supreme Leader Comrade Kim Jong-un Guided the Nuclear Weaponization Project,' which is almost identical to today's Rodong Sinmun front-page title, 'Respected Comrade Kim Jong-un Guided the Nuclear Weaponization Project.'"
He also noted the similarity between the senior officials of the Party Central Committee's Military Industry Department welcoming General Secretary Kim and giving a comprehensive report in 2017 and Kim receiving a report on the tactical nuclear warhead 'Hwasan-31' the day before. Jung said, "No one can accurately predict the timing of North Korea's 7th nuclear test, but it is highly likely that General Secretary Kim's recent public guidance on the nuclear weaponization project signals the imminent timing of a nuclear test."
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