N. Korea expected to conduct another nuke test 'sooner or later': think tank

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- The possibility of North Korea conducting another nuclear test is high as the reclusive country is striving to intimidate others to engage in peace treaty talks, a local think tank here said Thursday. "The possibility is high that the North will sooner or later conduct its fifth nuclear test or fire off another long-range missile," the Sejong Institute, a private think tank, said in its recently published report. It said such actions are aimed at getting other countries to come to the negotiating table for peace treaty talks. Pyongyang has called for signing a peace treaty to officially end the 1950-53 Korean War that was concluded in a cease-fire armistice. Washington has dismissed the demand, saying denuclearization should come first. The North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a long-range missile test in February, both of whom drew the strongest ever condemnation from the international community. In early March, the U.N. Security Council adopted the Resolution 2270 seen as the toughest ever sanctions slapped on the North for its provocations. "As the North made clear its dual-track policy of pursuing nuclear and economic development at the recently concluded congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, more nuke and long-range missile tests cannot be ruled out," it added. The think tank pointed out that its assessment of Pyongyang's future actions is shared by North Korean experts in Beijing. The report noted that things should be approached from the prospective that the North is "gauging the strategic timing" for the tests. At the congress, the first of its kind in over 30 years, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared his country a "responsible" nuclear weapons state in a clear sign that he has no intention of abandoning its nuclear program. The report noted that Kim might pursue a visit to China as he has reaffirmed his strong grip on power. The Sejong Institute then said South Korea needs to seek negotiations pre-emptively with China on conditions that can be possibly attached to Kim's visit to Beijing, rather than waiting until the last minute," the report said. The institute added that it's important to have strategic coordination and dialogue between Seoul and Beijing on ways to induce the North to reform and liberalize. kokobj@yna.co.kr (END)