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TOKYO (Reuters) – As South Korean and US officials reiterated warnings this week about a potential North Korean nuclear test, Pyongyang has said it is battling a new intestinal epidemic that comes as the country struggles with drought, covid and continuing food and money shortages. the border. .
During a visit to Washington this week, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin reiterated US estimates that North Korea has apparently completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test, which will dramatically increase the stakes in the diplomatic standoff between Washington and Pyongyang. Park said he believed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was waiting for time to make his “political decision”.
New satellite imagery released this week by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies showed that repairs to the Punggye-ri nuclear test facility over the past four months appear to be complete.
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Pyongyang has carried out an unprecedented barrage of missile tests as it rapidly expands and diversifies its weapons program. It is testing approximately 31 ballistic missiles this year – surpassing its annual record in just six months and despite UN Security Council resolutions banning such tests.
All the while, North Korea remains in strict border closure, even for its largest trading partner, neighboring China. Speaking at a news conference with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken this week, Park warned North Korea not to isolate itself further.
“I think North Korea is at a crossroads now. It can continue with its nuclear experience and isolate itself, or it can make the right decision and return to diplomacy and dialogue. “I hope North Korea can make the final choice instead of pursuing a dangerous course of action,” Park said.
The Korean Institute of Defense Analysis, which is affiliated with South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, estimates that North Korea has spent up to 2 percent of its gross domestic product this year – between $ 400 million and $ 650 million – on its missile tests.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s central news agency reported an outbreak of an “acute intestinal epidemic” on Thursday, without naming the disease or giving a number of cases. The term enteric refers to the gastrointestinal tract, and observers say the disease may be an intestinal disease such as typhoid fever and cholera.
The report, while alarming, does not necessarily indicate a deteriorating public health crisis, according to An Kyung-soo of the Seoul-based research center dprkhealth.org.
Waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid were prevalent in North Korea before the country’s first coronavirus infection was announced. Anne said that the outbreak of intestinal diseases is not an unusual situation, given the poor health and sanitation conditions in the country.
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“Recent reports in the state media about the epidemic may be politically motivated to demonstrate the efforts of leader Kim Jong Un for his people,” Ann said.
North Korean state media reported that Kim was distributing medical care as part of “her noble view of dedicated service to the well-being of the people.”
However, the epidemic is likely to complicate matters for the regime, which is already battling the coronavirus epidemic amid growing economic problems and chronic shortages of vaccines and drugs.
South Korea’s unification ministry said Thursday it was ready to help North Korea fight the new outbreak. But Pyongyang has not responded to proposals for coronavirus aid from South Korea and the United States, and is unlikely to change course with countries the regime sees as threats to national security.
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North Korea has demanded the return of freight trains with China amid food and medical supplies, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun said this week, citing Chinese sources. It was the latest sign of North Korea’s growing dependence on Beijing, which has brought Pyongyang closer amid growing competition between the United States and China.
The denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea fell apart in 2019. The United States has said it is ready to resume talks without preconditions, and North Korea has said it wants sanctions eased. The United States has not indicated it will be open to lifting any sanctions and is pushing for more in response to recent Pyongyang tests.
Last week, China’s envoy to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said Beijing did not want to see a new North Korean nuclear test and called on the United States to lift sanctions and end joint military exercises: “The United States is the world’s number one superpower. If the United States wants to have a dialogue with anyone in the world, it’s not difficult. “
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