North Korean ‘indication’ of nuclear test, South warns

South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told a parliamentary committee on Monday that “there is such an indication” of nuclear test preparations at Pyongyang’s site in the country’s northeast (pictured, below).

Defence officials told the South Korean government that the North had completed preparations for a nuclear test in two underground tunnels at the test site. One of the tunnels was used for its nuclear test on February 12, but the other remains ununsed.

Mr Ryoo later said he had “misspoke”. Despite his comments being recorded on video, he said he couldn’t remember making them and didn’t mean to say them. He said he was “startled” by reports carrying his earlier comments.

But Seoul has been saying for months that the North has prepared a tunnel for a nuclear blast and can use it whenever it wants.

If a fourth test were to take place, it would lead to further provocations, and would probably invite sanctions from the United Nations.

Watch more: should we be scared of North Korea?

It was suggested that the nuclear test could take place from Wednesday, which is also the date from which the North Korean government said last week that it could not guarantee the safety of foreign diplomats in its embassies.

So far foreign diplomats in North Korea’s embassies have remained in the country, despite the warning.

Heightened tensions

Mr Ryoo’s comments also come the day after presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing said that South Korea’s national security director had predicted a missile or nuclear test by the North on Wednesday.

During a meeting with other South Korean officials, Kim Jang-Soo, South Korea’s national security director, also said the notice to diplomats and other recent North Korean actions are an attempt to stoke security concerns and to force South Korea and the US to offer a dialogue.

Washington and Seoul want North Korea to resume the six-party nuclear talks – which also include China, Russia and Japan – that it abandoned in 2009.

The US has stengthened its missile defences in response to the threat from Pyongyang, with US General Martin Dempsey saying that though he does not believe North Korea will engage in military action any time soon, “I can’t take the chance that it won’t.”

Two important North Korean anniversaries are also approaching, on which there are concerns action may be taken – April 15 in the anniversary of the birth of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, and April 25 is the anniversary of the creation of the North Korean army.

International Editor Lindsey Hilsum blogs: North Korea - a beginner's guide

The South Korean defense minister said on Thursday that North Korea had moved a missile with “considerable range” to its east coast, possibly to conduct a test launch.

His description suggested that the missile could be the Musudan missile, capable of striking American bases in Guam with its estimated range of up to 4,000 kilometers (2,490 miles).

Diplomatic moves by South Korea and the US have been more conciliatory over the weekend, with the US postponing a missile test in California, amid fears it would further stoke tensions, and the top US commander in South Korea also cancelled a trip to Washington.