A US official said that Washington's assessment is that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its seventh nuclear test.

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): A senior US official announced that Washington's assessment is that North Korea is preparing for its seventh nuclear bomb test and that its execution is subject to a political decision.
Alexander Bell, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, pointed out that the new nuclear test would cause a sharp increase in tensions in the region and the world and stressed Washington's iron commitment to the security of South Korea and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Bell said during a meeting hosted by the Korea Association: "The United States assesses that North Korea has prepared its Punggye-ri test site for its possible seventh explosive nuclear test and is only waiting for a political decision to proceed."
North Korea announced the successful test of a hydrogen bomb in September 2017. This was North Korea's sixth nuclear test.
The US deputy secretary of state also condemned the test of the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it a violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
According to Fars, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on November 1 that Pyongyang tested a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-19, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called the move a clear success.
According to the report, the missile reached an altitude of 7,687 kilometers and traveled 1,01 kilometers in 5,156 seconds before landing in waters east of the Korean Peninsula.