U.S. "North Korea only has a decision to conduct its seventh nuclear test...Russia provides state-of-the-art technology to the North"

North Korea's nuclear test, regional tensions, and global security threats"
"Investigation of all North Korean nuclear threats and willingness to advance nuclear program"
"The ROK-U.S. alliance should be developed to prepare for potential attack by North Korea."

[Anchor]
U.S. State Department officials say North Korea has completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test and all that is left is a political decision.

A White House Asia aide said Russia would be providing state-of-the-art technology to North Korea, which would be a major challenge for the next administration.

Reporter Kim Jandi's report.

[Reporter]
The United States, which has been watching the possibility of North Korea's provocations during the regime change, says it only has a political decision to make regarding North Korea's additional nuclear test.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Alexandra Bell made the assessment, referring to North Korea's recent test-fire of intercontinental ballistic missiles.

[Alexandra Bell / Undersecretary of State for Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability: The U.S. evaluates that North Korea has completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, leaving only a political decision to make]

It warned that North Korea's tests would seriously escalate regional tensions and pose a threat to global security, and said all missile launches and investigations into nuclear threats are its willingness to advance its illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.

In particular, he stressed the need to develop the South Korea-U.S. alliance to prepare for potential North Korean attacks, including the use of nuclear weapons.

Recently, there have been voices of concern about strengthening military relations between North Korea and Russia.

Mira Rapp Hooper, a senior adviser to the White House National Security Council, analyzed that Russia is not only trying to justify North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities, but also transmitting high-end technology to North Korea.

[Mira Rapp Hooper / Senior White House Asia Advisor] We know that thousands of North Korean soldiers are in Russia right now. And Russia, perhaps, is providing North Korea with a level of cutting-edge technology that was unimaginable a few years ago.]

{랩}Lab Hooper told me he had been thinking about finding a solution to the close relationship between North Korea and Russia, but it was a very difficult problem.

While the Biden administration has been in contact with North Korea through all possible channels and has expressed its willingness to talk without preconditions, North Korea says it has not responded.

However, he emphasized that there is a positive aspect of North Korea-Russia closeness, promoting trilateral cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Japan, which would have been unimaginable a few years ago.

Amid warnings that North Korea will conduct its seventh nuclear test in Punggye-ri, the aide predicted that Russia's move to provide advanced technology and North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities will be a huge task for the upcoming U.S. administration.

I'm Kim Jandi from YTN.

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video: Joo Hye-min