TOKYO — North Korea could carry out another nuclear test if the launch of its long-range rocket leads to the expected suspension of US food aid, a pro-North newspaper in Japan said Wednesday.
North Korea says that it will launch a satellite between April 12 and April 16, but the US, South Korea and other nations see it as a pretext for a long-range missile test, which is banned by the United Nations.
Pyongyang agreed in February to suspend operations at its Yongbyon uranium-enrichment plant and impose a moratorium on long-range missile tests and nuclear tests, in return for 265,000 tons (240,000 tonnes) of US food aid.
Washington said last week that it was suspending plans to start food deliveries in light of the imminent rocket launch.
In return, the North also may backtrack on its nuclear pledge, according to the Choson Sinbo newspaper, which generally reflects Pyongyang’s official thinking.
“North Korea’s commitment to a temporary moratorium on nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and uranium-enrichment activity can be canceled,” it said.
The US aid move amounts to “turning the clock back to post-April 2009,” the Choson Sinbo said, referring to the North’s second nuclear test in May 2009, a month after it launched a long-range rocket.
North Korea will never give up its planned satellite launch, the newspaper added.
The North is preparing mass celebrations April 15 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the country’s first and “eternal” president and founder of the dynasty that has ruled uninterrupted since 1948.
A successful satellite launch would burnish the image of his grandson Kim Jong Eun as he seeks to establish his credentials as a strong leader.