"Taking into account Pyongyang's rhetoric and its estimated technological capabilities, it can be safely assumed that [North Korea] will test launch an ICBM in mid-February. The trials will be timed to coincide with the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Kim Jong-il's birth on February 16," he explained.
Cheong Seong-Chang suggested that South Korea and Washington were limited in their ability to deal with North Korea's nuclear program or its missile development initiative.
"The United States does not have detailed information on exact locations and the number of North Korea's nuclear weapons," the analyst said. "This is why carrying out surgical strikes or conducting special operations is highly unlikely."
Last week, the United States, Japan and South Korea took part in three-day naval missile defense war-games aimed at countering the missile threat from North Korea.
In his New Year's message, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that his country had almost finished developing a long-range nuclear missile and was preparing to test it.
"North Korea considers conducting several tests of its new armaments necessary before saying that the weapons system has been successfully introduced," Cheong Seong-Chang said.
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