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| South Korea: North Korea could launch nuclear missile tests 'at any moment' | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| North Korea could be preparing for its fourth nuclear test in seven years, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Defence. | North Korea could be preparing for its fourth nuclear test in seven years, according to South Korea’s Ministry of Defence. |
| A spokesman from South Korea’s Ministry of Defence said that the country’s intelligence agencies have detected a lot of activity in the Punggye-ri area of the country, the place where North Korea’s nuclear test site is situated. | A spokesman from South Korea’s Ministry of Defence said that the country’s intelligence agencies have detected a lot of activity in the Punggye-ri area of the country, the place where North Korea’s nuclear test site is situated. |
| Speaking at a press briefing, Kim Min-Seok said: "Our military is currently detecting a lot of activity in and around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.” | Speaking at a press briefing, Kim Min-Seok said: "Our military is currently detecting a lot of activity in and around the Punggye-ri nuclear test site.” |
| According, Min-Seok the North Koreans were at a stage at which a nuclear test could be launched “at any moment.” | |
| The news takes on greater significance in the light of the fact that US President, Barack Obama, will visit South Korea at the end of this week. | The news takes on greater significance in the light of the fact that US President, Barack Obama, will visit South Korea at the end of this week. |
| Part of the Obama’s Asian Tour, in which he will travel to four Asian nations, the President will arrive in South Korea on Friday. | Part of the Obama’s Asian Tour, in which he will travel to four Asian nations, the President will arrive in South Korea on Friday. |
| During his time in South Korea, Obama will hold talks with the South Korean President Park Geun-hye, with discussion around the increasingly unpredictable behaviour of North Korea high on his list of priorities. | During his time in South Korea, Obama will hold talks with the South Korean President Park Geun-hye, with discussion around the increasingly unpredictable behaviour of North Korea high on his list of priorities. |
| While the possibilities for another nuclear test are real, Kim Min-Seok did not rule out the increased activity in Punggye-ri being merely a “deception tactic”, aimed to raise tensions ahead of the American Head of State’s visit. | While the possibilities for another nuclear test are real, Kim Min-Seok did not rule out the increased activity in Punggye-ri being merely a “deception tactic”, aimed to raise tensions ahead of the American Head of State’s visit. |
| Min-Seok said: "We are thinking of possibilities that the North may stage a surprise nuclear test or just pretend to stage a nuclear test." | Min-Seok said: "We are thinking of possibilities that the North may stage a surprise nuclear test or just pretend to stage a nuclear test." |
| If North Korea do decide to carry out a nuclear test, it will be the second under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, who took over from his father in 2011. | If North Korea do decide to carry out a nuclear test, it will be the second under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, who took over from his father in 2011. |
| Earlier this week, the North Korean Foreign Ministry spoke out against Obama’s visit claiming that it was a "a reactionary and dangerous” move, aimed at “escalating confrontation” and “bringing dark clouds over an unstable region.” | Earlier this week, the North Korean Foreign Ministry spoke out against Obama’s visit claiming that it was a "a reactionary and dangerous” move, aimed at “escalating confrontation” and “bringing dark clouds over an unstable region.” |
| The tension between both north and South Korea has been heightened of late, after a series of Rocket missile launches from the North Korean army resulted in an exchange of fire between both sides. | The tension between both north and South Korea has been heightened of late, after a series of Rocket missile launches from the North Korean army resulted in an exchange of fire between both sides. |