Japan says North Korea may start 'conducting nuclear tests'

North Korea may conduct “further provocative activities”, including “conducting nuclear tests”, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara told reporters on Thursday (October 6).

“The significant advancements in (North Korea’s) missile technology cannot be overlooked,” he added.

Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday in the direction of Japan about an hour after it condemned the United States for talking to the U.N. Security Council about North Korea’s recent launches.

The missile launch was the sixth in 12 days and the first since North Korea fired an intermediate-range missile (IRBM) over Japan on Tuesday, which prompted joint South Korean and U.S. missile drills during which one weapon crashed and burned.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to speak on the phone with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol later Thursday afternoon.