UN concerns over potential North Korean nuclear test rise

The world is watching tensely as the possibility of North Korea carrying out a further nuclear bomb tests seems to be ever increasing.

"Everybody is holding its breath about this, because another nuclear test would be yet another confirmation of a program which is moving full steam ahead, in a way that is incredibly, incredibly concerning", the Head of UN’s atomic agency Rafael Grossi admitted on October 27, Al Jazeera reported.

Tensions around the Korean Peninsula have been rising in the past weeks as North Korea recently launched a series of short- and long-range ballistic missiles into territories close to their neighbours South Korea and Japan. In the beginning of October, one such missile even flew over the Japanese islands before landing in the ocean.

North Korea, on the to other hand, argues that its missile launches are in response to South Korea’s military exercises with the US in recent months, as Caliber.Az reported earlier. 

On October 28 the formal Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched yet another long-range missile launch, only days after a joint meeting of South Korea’s, Japan’s and the US diplomatic representatives met in Tokyo to discuss their response should the DPKR continue such provocations.

Caliber.Az recalls, that the three countries issued a statement, assuring that there would be an "unparalleled" response should North Korea conduct another nuclear missile test, which would be their first detonation of a device since 2017.

According to Al Jazeera, a new US defence assessment published on October 27 states that a nuclear attack by North Korea on Washington’s interests or allies would lead to the end of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s regime.