Josh Smith, Idrees and Josh Smith

WASHINGTON/SEOUL – Despite battling a series of COVID-19 infection, North Korea seems to be preparing for an intercontinental missile test (ICBM), ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s first official visit to South Korea.

An official speaking under anonymity said the most recent intelligence indicated that North Korea might conduct an ICBM testing as early as Thursday or Friday.

Biden will arrive in South Korea Friday to hold negotiations with South Korean counterparts for several days, before heading to Japan. According to the White House, Biden had discussed a visit to the Demilitarized Zone at the North Korean border last week.

Biden could be distracted by a weapons test and lose sight of his larger focus on China and trade. This would also highlight the inability to make progress with denuclearisation negotiations despite the administration’s promise to end the impasse using practical solutions.

As Pyongyang fights its first COVID epidemic, it could make international efforts to provide assistance more difficult. 

Biden is making the first trip to South Korea as President. This will be his first summit with Yoon Suk-yeol (who took office May 10).

Yoon has pledged to take a tougher line against North Korean “provocations” and expects to ask Biden for more assurances that the United States will increase its “extended diplomacy” against North Korea.

Seoul’s defense ministry spokesperson said the U.S. had assessed a missile launch. He also stated that South Korean intelligence and U.S. intelligence agencies are closely monitoring these activities and coordinating. Seoul’s military maintains a strong readiness position.

U.S. officials warned the North that it could test a nuke weapon during their visit. On Tuesday, the State Department indicated that they do not expect that the COVID virus outbreak will delay the return to nuclear testing which has been stopped since 2017.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the State Department said that even though North Korea continues to deny the donation of COVID vaccines (apparently much-needed), they still invest in untold amounts of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons programs that do not alleviate the human suffering of North Koreans.”

The Center for International and Strategic Studies, a U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has released a new report that shows commercial satellite imagery showing work at the site. Its underground tunnels for testing were closed in 2018, after Kim Jong Un announced he would not allow nuclear and ICBM test.

Since then, he stated that North Korea is now free from the moratorium due not to having made progress with the United States. In March, the North began testing ICBMs again.

“Refurbishment work at Tunnel No. 3 has been proceeding over the past three months and will presumably be nearing completion for the much-speculated seventh nuclear test.” The work on Tunnel 3 is progressing over the last three months and will presumably be nearly complete for the highly-speculated 7th nuclear test,” CSIS reported. Kim Jong Un has sole control over the timing of this nuclear test.

North Korea’s long-dormant nuclear reactor has been re-opened for construction. It would produce plutonium for use in nuclear weapons at an additional 10 percent, researchers from the U.S. James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies reported last week. They also used satellite imagery.

Analysts believe that, even if North Korea develops a weapon of mass destruction, South Korea should provide unconditional COVID assistance to the United States.

North Korea flew to China in order to collect medical supplies just days after it announced its first COVID-19 epidemic. However, South Korea has not responded to any offers for assistance. Washington stated that Washington supports North Korea’s assistance, however there are no plans at the moment to supply vaccines.