A former top U-S weapons inspector in Iraq predicts North Korea may conduct nuclear tests before June 15th.

David Kay, an ex-chief of the Iraq Survey Group who recently visited China, on Monday declined to explain how he arrived at that specific date.

Kay was giving a lecture hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.

U-S officials say they are closely watching the North's apparent preparations for a possible test, but have no specific date.