Iaea Chief: North Korea Ready For Nuclear Test
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says that North Korea seems ready to conduct a nuclear test soon.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, now visiting Japan, made the comment in an interview with NHK on Friday.
Grossi said satellite imagery of North Korea the agency has obtained shows an important degree of activity compatible or consistent with previous activities leading to nuclear tests.
He said the activity seems to indicate the North is approaching a moment where it might decide to carry out a test.
Grossi added that the IAEA is ready to resume inspections in the country that have been suspended since 2009.
On Wednesday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan indicated that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test during President Joe Biden's visit to South Korea and Japan that starts on Friday.
Grossi referred to Russia's seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, which is the biggest plant in Europe.
He warned of the danger of losing account of large volumes of uranium and plutonium stored at the plant. He stressed the need to inspect and monitor the situation there.