SEOUL - The office of President Yoon Suk-yeol has been on "24-hour standby" as North Korea is expected to carry out its seventh nuclear test "at any time," according to South Korean officials.
Yonhap reported that the recent series of missile tests by North Korea are believed to have been preparations for a seventh nuclear test by the North.
A senior presidential official reportedly told reporters that "it's a 24-hour readiness regime". They added that "everyone is in standby mode".
South Korea's national intelligence service stated that North Korea could carry out its seventh nuclear test between October 16th, and November 7th, which, according to Yonhap, sits after the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, and before the U.S. midterm elections.
In a seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington he said, "They are on a little campaign right now of launching ballistic missiles and short-range ones, and it certainly has all of our attention, U.S. Forces Korea's as well as mine, and actually it's a concern".
North Korea started carrying out a number of ballistic missile tests two days after the United States sent the USS Ronald Regan back to the Korean Peninsula for joint naval exercises with South Korea.
The 7th Fleet Commander said, "I think that what you saw was after many years of not operating in the Sea of Japan and visiting South Korea for a couple of reasons ... us being in that area, I think, probably precipitated a little bit of his tantrum."
The joint exercises were carried out from September 25th to October 9th, which lead to North Korea carrying out its own military exercises in the region and accusing the allies of provoking them.
A spokesman for the U.S. State Department reportedly spoke to Yonhap news and said "We reject the notion that our defensive actions to respond to the DPRK threats justifies their escalatory and unlawful behavior".
Vice admiral Thomas said the 7th fleet said that while the fleet has enough resources to address North Korean concerns, he may have other priorities that take precedence.
When asked if the 7th Fleet has enough resources to address recent North Korean concerns he said, "As far as taking away resources, we always have resources available for us," he said.
"It's a concern but not one that I'm going to prioritize over my bigger concern there," he added.
Yonhap reported that the recent series of missile tests by North Korea are believed to have been preparations for a seventh nuclear test by the North.
A senior presidential official reportedly told reporters that "it's a 24-hour readiness regime". They added that "everyone is in standby mode".
South Korea's national intelligence service stated that North Korea could carry out its seventh nuclear test between October 16th, and November 7th, which, according to Yonhap, sits after the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, and before the U.S. midterm elections.
7th Fleet Commander: USS Ronald Reagan May Have Precipitated North's 'Tantrum'
Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet said on Friday that while North Korea's missile launches are of concern, it is not a concern that he will allow taking priority over other, bigger issues in the Indo-Pacific. He also said that the USS Ronald Reagan being sent to the Korean Peninsula may have precipitated a 'tantrum' by the North.In a seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington he said, "They are on a little campaign right now of launching ballistic missiles and short-range ones, and it certainly has all of our attention, U.S. Forces Korea's as well as mine, and actually it's a concern".
North Korea started carrying out a number of ballistic missile tests two days after the United States sent the USS Ronald Regan back to the Korean Peninsula for joint naval exercises with South Korea.
The 7th Fleet Commander said, "I think that what you saw was after many years of not operating in the Sea of Japan and visiting South Korea for a couple of reasons ... us being in that area, I think, probably precipitated a little bit of his tantrum."
The joint exercises were carried out from September 25th to October 9th, which lead to North Korea carrying out its own military exercises in the region and accusing the allies of provoking them.
A spokesman for the U.S. State Department reportedly spoke to Yonhap news and said "We reject the notion that our defensive actions to respond to the DPRK threats justifies their escalatory and unlawful behavior".
Vice admiral Thomas said the 7th fleet said that while the fleet has enough resources to address North Korean concerns, he may have other priorities that take precedence.
When asked if the 7th Fleet has enough resources to address recent North Korean concerns he said, "As far as taking away resources, we always have resources available for us," he said.
"It's a concern but not one that I'm going to prioritize over my bigger concern there," he added.