And with North Korea's ruling Workers' Party congress kicking off,... the possibility of Pyongyang conducting a fifth nuclear test appears to have receded.
Experts say the test will have to wait until after the event at the earliest.
Kwon Soa reports.
North Korea has refrained from conducting another nuclear test so far,... after its fourth one in January.
That pushes the chance of a fifth test to after the ruling Workers' Party congress,... that kicked off Friday.
South Korea and U.S. predictions, activities at the North's nuclear test site,... as well as a string of failed ballistic missile launches had been hinting that another nuclear test may happen PRIOR to the congress.
This,... in order to boast its nuclear capability to its people,... before the big event.
However, some experts say,... the timing wasn't appropriate in the regime's eyes,... as it's feeling the increased international pressure.
That includes its long-time ally China, and Russia,... which have shown more active cooperation in punishing the North for its recent provocations.
"North Korea seems to have assessed that the aftermath would be too big before the congress,... as sanctions would accelerate.
I think the North wants to boost its nuclear capability as much as possible, before the next administration in the U.S."
Although some say a fifth test is a while away,... the South Korean government is not taking any chances with the military maintaining a state of readiness.
That's partly because Seoul and the rest of the world have seen that Kim Jong-un's moves are more unpredictable than those of his predecessors'.
Kwon Soa, Arirang News.
