The US and South Korea
warned North Korea of "further consequences" if it carried out a third
nuclear test, as South Korea's outgoing leader suggested more than one
test could be planned.
Lee Myung-bak, who leaves office later this month, told the
Choson Ilbo that Pyongyang could be planning "multiple nuclear tests at
two places or more".
North Korea said in January it was planning a "high-level nuclear test".
It has conducted two nuclear tests before, in 2006 and 2009.
Both followed the launch of long-range rockets, actions condemned by the UN as banned tests of missile technology.
Pyongyang has given no timeframe for the test, but analysts
say satellite imagery indicates preparations at the test site in
Punggye-ri are almost complete, with a tunnel in the mountainside
apparently being sealed up, a key step before the test can take place.
On Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued what were
described as "important" guidelines at high-level government meeting,
another indication that the test is imminent.
The Washington-based
Institute of science and International security has said that although recent satellite images "do not reveal whether a
test is imminent, the on-going activity at the site justifies concern
that a test will soon occur".
'Miniaturised'
Satellite images show preparations at the test site are almost complete
In a phone call on Monday, the new US Secretary of State John
Kerry and his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan agreed that if
North Korea "continues its provocative behaviour and takes further
steps, that there must be further consequences", State Department
spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
The UN Security Council agreed in January to increase
sanctions against North Korea after it carried out a long-range rocket
launch in December. It also warned Pyongyang it would face "significant
action" if the planned nuclear test went ahead.
But Mr Lee said it would be "difficult to persuade the North
regime to give up the nuclear path", and that North Korea's reference to
a "high-level" test could indicate it planned to detonate more than one
device.
A test could also bring the country closer to miniaturisation
of nuclear weapons, a key marker in turning nuclear devices into
deployable weapons.
"If the North produces miniaturised weapons that can be used
as warheads on missiles, it would really pose a threat," Mr Lee told the
Chosun Ilbo newspaper. "That's why the whole world is watching it so
intensively."
North Korea watchers have previously said that analysis of the test site indicates two tests could be being prepared.
The country's two previous tests have both involved plutonium
devices, but some analysts say the threat of "high-level" testing could
also indicate the North intends to detonate its first nuclear device
made with highly-enriched uranium.
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