N. Korea hints at resuming nuclear, ICBM tests to counter US

Seoul: North Korea has hinted to resume long-range missile and nuclear tests in response to what it calls the "intensifying hostile moves" of the United States.

Needless to say, but any such test would significantly escalate US-North Korea tensions, which have already been heightened because of Pyongyang's six ballistic missile tests to start the New Year.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), at a Politburo meeting—attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, officials said they would "reconsider all the confidence-building measures previously and voluntarily taken by our state and rapidly examine the issue on resuming all actions which had been temporarily suspended”.

That is an apparent reference to Kim's 2018 announcement that he would voluntarily suspend nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.

North Korea has not conducted a nuclear or ICBM test since 2017, during the height of tensions between Kim and former US President Donald Trump. 

However, subsequent Kim-Trump negotiations broke down in 2019, following which North Korea resumed launching short-range ballistic missiles.

In 2021, the Asian country has conducted two tests of what it described as a hypersonic missile, launched a pair of ballistic missiles from a train, and fired a pair of tactical guided missiles from an airport in Pyongyang. 

North Korea was especially angered when the US this month imposed unilateral sanctions against five North Koreans linked to Pyongyang's weapons program.

It's not clear whether an ICBM or nuclear test is imminent. 

At the end of 2019, Kim also said he "no longer felt bound" by his moratorium. He has since failed to follow through on that threat.

Moreover, North Korea is banned from any ballistic missile activity, including launches of any range, by a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions.