South Korea Believes North Likely to Conduct More Nuclear Tests Before May

Seoul officials believe that Pyongyang is likely to carry out an additional nuclear test before early May, as North Korea has increased activity at its nuclear test site, local media reported Sunday, citing government sources.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the Yonhap news agency, South Korea has detected a sharp increase in vehicle and human activities at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

"Related officials concluded that it is a convincing sign that North Korea is preparing for its fifth nuclear test, and they are keeping close tabs on the situation," the agency quoted its sources as saying.

According to the agency’s sources, North Korea’s preparations for a new nuclear test are “in the final stages.”

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated after North Korea successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test in early January and put a satellite into orbit a month later, violating UN Security Council resolutions and triggering condemnation from the international community.

Last month, Pyongyang announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had inspected the final test fire of the 300-millimeter caliber rockets equipped with an accurate guidance system.