Sep 24 – The South Korean military has detected signs that North Korea may be preparing to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), the Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday, days before a visit by US Vice President Kamala Harris.
The military detected the preparations this week in Sinpo, South Hamgyong province, North Korea, Yonhap reported, citing an unnamed South Korean military source.
This coincides with a US think tank report this week, which cited images from commercial satellites.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is aware of signs and movements that suggest North Korean provocations, including the SLBMthe presidential office said in a statement on Saturday.
Harris is scheduled to visit the region next week and meet with the leaders of Japan and South Korea.
A senior US government official said at a briefing on Friday that a nuclear test or other provocation was possible during Harris’s trip to the region, but that they had no predictions or announcements to make.
A US aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Friday for the first time in about four years, joining other military ships to participate in joint exercises with South Korean forces.
North Korea has denounced past US military deployments and joint drills as rehearsals of war and proof of hostile policies by Washington and Seoul.
