North Korea Prepares Its Nuclear and Missile Sites for International Inspectors' Visits

According to a report by the South Korean state news agency citing a lawmaker from the ruling party, Pyongyang is preparing some of its missile and nuclear sites for visits by international inspectors. Kim Min-ki, a member of the South Korean parliament from the ruling 'Democratic' Party, told reporters that his country's intelligence officials believe North Korea is likely preparing the 'Punggye-ri' nuclear test site and the 'Sohae' missile launch site for inspection visits. According to this official in Seoul, the preparations are likely aimed at allowing foreign inspectors to visit, although 'no specific events have been observed at the [nuclear testing] Nyangbyan (Yangbyon) center.' The 'Nyangbyan' (Yangbyon) nuclear facility is located 100 kilometers from the North Korean capital. This facility has been the site of nuclear fissile material production for North Korea's nuclear tests from 2006 to 2017. During this period, Pyongyang conducted six nuclear weapon tests, the last of which was stronger than all previous ones. Since 2009, light-water reactors have also been constructed at this facility. North Korea has refrained from conducting nuclear and missile tests since last year; however, it did not allow international inspectors to be present during the dismantling of the Punggye-ri facility, which led to criticisms regarding Pyongyang's true intentions in the denuclearization process. In late September, Moon Jae-in, the President of South Korea, who visited Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, stated that the North Korean leader agreed to end activities at 'Sohae,' a key site for testing ballistic missile engines, 'in the presence of international experts.' At that time, Moon Jae-in stated during a joint press conference with Kim Jong-un that Pyongyang had agreed to take further practical steps to end operations at the Nyangbyan nuclear facility if the United States took reciprocal actions. The United States has yet to respond to the reports published on Wednesday in South Korea. The defense ministers of South Korea and the United States are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, November 1, U.S. time. Seoul officials say that in this annual meeting, James Mattis and his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, will discuss various issues, including 'the proposal to halt joint air exercises' between the two countries. Meanwhile, Japanese publications, which view negotiations with North Korea and Seoul's efforts in this regard with more skepticism, have warned about the decades-old alliance between South Korea and Washington. The Japan Times has suggested that North Korea's goal may be to undermine the alliance between South Korea and the United States. North Korean state-controlled media called on Wednesday for the cessation of Seoul's sanctions against Pyongyang, stating that these sanctions are a 'barrier' to improving relations between the two sides.