South Korea's point man on North Korea dismissed a U.S. report Friday that Pyongyang may be preparing an underground test of its nuclear weapons, saying there have been no intelligence reports of such activities.
Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok said both Seoul and Washington have long assumed the possibility of a nuclear test by the North and have been closely monitoring the communist state.
"But I have never heard (anyone) has ever obtained evidence of preparations for a nuclear test," the unification minister told a special parliamentary committee on the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea.
The remarks came after a government official, while speaking on condition of anonymity, said the government was "continuing to monitor the North's activities."
Quoting unidentified U.S. officials, the U.S.-based ABC News reported Thursday (Washington time) that a U.S. intelligence office has detected evidence of possible activities in the North to prepare for an underground nuclear bomb test.
The South Korean minister, however, said the reported intelligence may not be decisive or authentic, so it could not conclude the communist state is in fact preparing for a nuclear test.
"It is difficult to say the government has countermeasures against a situation that is not based on solid evidence," Lee said.
The minister said his country and the United States were sharing their intelligence on North Korean missiles to a "near perfect" level.
Lee said the countries have long suspected a possible nuclear test by the North and acted accordingly as they must always assume the worst, but said it was important for them, especially for South Korea, to be careful until there is enough clear evidence to "make such situations imminent."
Pyongyang has yet to test a nuclear bomb despite its announcement early last year that it possesses nuclear weapons.
The North has attended five rounds of the so-called six-party talks aimed at peacefully ending the dispute over its nuclear ambitions since late 2002, but it has stayed away from the talks since a November 2005 round.
Despite repeated warnings from Seoul and the international community, the communist state test-fired seven ballistic missiles on July 5, prompting a unanimous U.N. Security Council resolution condemning its action and prohibiting any missile-related dealings with the North.
The nuclear disarmament talks are also attended by South Korea, Japan, China, Russia and the United States.
Seoul, Aug. 18 (Yonhap News)
Minister says there are no signs of planned N. Korean nuclear tests |
