N. Korea able to use Punggye-ri nuke testing site after restoration work: JCS
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is believed to be able to reuse its now-defunct Punggye-ri nuclear test site after weeks or months of restoration work, though no such moves have been detected, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Tuesday.
In May last year, the communist country demolished the testing site, which included four tunnels, in a show of its commitment to denuclearization.
"Two of the four tunnels -- the No. 3 and No. 4 ones -- could be able to be used again after repair," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki told lawmakers during a parliamentary audit, noting that "at least weeks or months will be necessary for their restoration."
A senior-level JCS officer then added that no moves for restoration have been detected.
Declaring the breakdown of its working-level talks with the United States held in Sweden last week, the North's top nuclear negotiator Kim Myong-gil said, "Whether our suspension of the nuclear and ICBM tests will continue or they will be revived will depend wholly on the U.S. stance."
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
1 (LEAD) Trump warns N. Korea not to interfere with his reelection bid
-
2 S. Korea scraps conscription privilege for men from multicultural families
-
3 KBO slugger catches team, MLB scouts by surprise with posting request
-
4 Moon to meet China's top diplomat at Cheong Wa Dae
-
5 Senior N.K. official says Trump's remarks, if not mistake, would be serious challenge
-
1 N.K. official newspaper urges 'self reliance' after Kim's visit to Mount Paekdu
-
2 (LEAD) Watchdog recommends highest level of compensation over derivative misselling fiasco
-
3 (LEAD) Moon, Trump agree on need to maintain dialogue momentum over N. Korea
-
4 (Yonhap Interview) U.S. expert calls for 'tailored sanctions relief' on path to N.K. denuclearization
-
5 Police refer BTS' Jungkook to prosecutors for potential indictment
-
1 Ultrafine dust rising to 'very bad' levels in Seoul
-
2 (LEAD) U.S. sends B-52 bomber, Global Hawk amid tensions with N. Korea: aviation tracker
-
3 (2nd LD) U.S. returns 4 bases, Yongsan Garrison return process begins
-
4 N. Korea could lift freeze on ICBM, nuke tests later this month
-
5 (2nd LD) Pompeo says U.S. is hopeful N. Korea will refrain from nuclear, long-range missile tests