The government is keeping a close eye on the possibility of North Korea engaging in provocations around October 10 when the North’s ruling party will mark the 70th anniversary of its foundation.
 
Unification Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee told reporters on Wednesday that the possibility of the North launching provocations has always existed, adding that the South’s military is maintaining vigilance and is ready to respond properly should any provocations occur.
  
Jeong added that he believes recent remarks from a North Korean diplomat demonstrated that Pyongyang feels burdened by the global attention toward its nuclear ambitions in the wake of the Iranian deal.
 
Earlier on Tuesday, the North’s Ambassador to China Ji Jae-ryong said the North is not interested in talks seeking for Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear weapons program.
 
Also on Tuesday, the North’s Deputy Permanent Representative at the United Nations Jang Il-hun commented on the possibility that Pyongyang could launch a long-range missile in October.
 
As the North is said to have completed expanding the launch pad at its Dongchang-ri missile facility, U.S. intelligence authorities have warned that Pyongyang could stage a military provocation.