叛逃官员：朝鲜有宏大的核武器计划

Next year will be the most opportune time for North Korea to bolster its nuclear program because of upcoming leadership changes in the United States and South Korea, according to a senior North Korean official who defected recently to the South.

"With South Korea holding presidential elections and the U.S. undergoing an administration transition, the North sees 2017 as the prime time for nuclear development," said Thae Yong-ho, who was North Korea\'s second highest ranking diplomat in London.

Thae defected to South Korea in August, becoming the most senior North Korean official to defect in almost 20 years.

At a news conference Tuesday with South Korean reporters, Thae made clear he was not aware of the status of North Korea\'s nuclear program but expressed confidence that China would not severely discipline North Korea for its nuclear program because the North\'s disintegration could produce a combined U.S.-friendly Korea.

Thae said North Korean leader Kim Jung Un has no plans to relinquish his country\'s nuclear weapons even if he is offered large sums of money. The exiled diplomat said Kim is expediting the country\'s nuclear development program with the intent of possessing nuclear weapons by the end of next year.

North Korea conducted two nuclear tests this year and fired over 20 ballistic missiles. And it publicly promised to develop the ability to strike the United States with a nuclear weapon.

President-elect Donald Trump has said he favors the manufacture of nuclear weapons by Japan and South Korea as a deterrent to North Korea.

Donald Trump will assume control of the executive branch of the U.S. government on January 20 and South Korea will hold a presidential election next year. Thae predicted North Korea will attempt to open dialog with the two new administrations in an attempt to obtain nuclear power status.

曾经担任朝鲜驻伦敦使馆副大使的太勇浩说：“韩国将举行总统选举，美国要进行政府交接，朝鲜认为2017年是发展核项目的最佳时机。”

太勇浩今年8月叛逃到韩国，是近20年来最高级别的朝鲜叛逃官员。

他星期二在韩国记者会上说，他并不清楚朝鲜核项目的具体状况，不过他说他认为中国不会严厉惩罚朝鲜，因为如果朝鲜解体，朝鲜半岛就会出现一个对美国友好的统一国家。

太勇浩说，即使用大量金钱作为交换，朝鲜领导人金正恩也不会放弃核武器。他还说，金正恩正在加快发展核项目，争取明年年底拥有核武器。

朝鲜今年进行了两次核试验，发射20多个弹道导弹。朝鲜还公开宣称，要发展能够打击美国的核武器。

美国当选总统川普曾表示，他赞成日本和韩国拥有核武器，来遏制朝鲜。

川普将于1月20号宣誓就职，韩国要在明年举行总统选举。太勇浩预测，朝鲜将试图与这两个新政府对话获得拥核国家的地位。