North Korea could conduct nuclear test 'any time': US envoy

WASHINGTON: North Korea could conduct a seventh nuclear test at "any time" and has shown no interest in returning to negotiations, the US Special Representative for North Korea said on Tuesday (Jun 7).

North Korea has test-launched an unprecedented number of ballistic missiles this year and its officials have also used rhetoric that could suggest plans for the use of tactical nuclear weapons, Sung Kim told reporters.

Kim reiterated US assessments that North Korea was preparing to conduct a seventh nuclear test.

Asked when that might happen, he said: "I don't have anything more. They've obviously done the preparations ..., and my understanding is they could test any time."

Kim noted that on Jun 5, North Korea carried out test launches of eight ballistic missiles from various parts of the country, the most ever launched in a single day.

"North Korea has now launched 31 ballistic missiles in 2022, the most ballistic missile it has ever launched in a single year, surpassing its previous record of 25 in 2019. And it's only June," Kim said.

He reiterated US willingness to engage diplomatically with North Korea and to address issues of concern to Pyongyang.