The Foreign Ministry strongly denied foreign reports that North Korea may conduct nuclear tests as early as June.

Japan's Kyodo news agency earlier said that Washington notified the International Atomic Energy Agency, Japan and related states of possible nuclear testing by Pyongyang in the near future.

A ministry official said Seoul has heard nothing of such reports and received no word from the U-S including its Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who recently visited Seoul.

The official criticized the Japanese media for their one-sided reports.