South Korean intelligence has detected heightened activity at North Korea's underground nuclear test site, indicating that the reclusive nation is possibly in preparations for another nuclear test.
Seoul has been watching their notorious northern counterpart closely for signs of another nuclear venture, after it threatened last month that it would conduct a "new form" of test. According to experts, the new form of test would most probably mean the use of an uranium-based device.
North Korea is believed to have used plutonium for the three previous nuclear tests the country conducted in 2006, 2009 and 2013 - with the last one inviting the strong of the United Nations, and sactions were slapped to the controversial communist country.
The increased activity could have greater political repercussions as it comes only days ahead of US President Barack Obama's official two-day visit to Seoul, scheduled to start on Friday.
"A lot of activity is currently being seen, so our forces are keeping in mind the possibility that North Korea may suddenly conduct a nuclear test in a short period of time, or as in previous cases, deceive us with what appears to be a nuclear test," Kim Min-seok, the spokesman for Seoul's defense ministry, said in a press briefing, according the South Korean Yonhap News Agency.
The spokesperson added that North Korea appears to be ready to carry out a nuclear test any time, if it wishes to do so. The communist nation has recently claimed to be preparing something "unimaginable" for its enemies and "something big" before 30 April.
The development also comes just weeks after it emerged that North Korea was capable of destroying United States with Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse Attack.
(Ed: VP)
