North Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Kang Suk-ju has reportedly told Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan during recent talks in Pyongyang that a second nuclear test could take place under continued sanctions.

The Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun said that Kang's remark, which came after the Chinese envoy's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, was conveyed to parties to the six-way talks by Beijing's top nuclear negotiator Wu Dawei, who accompanied Tang to Pyongyang.

Wu quoted Kim as saying there are no plans for further testing for now but that North Korea would not ignore heightened U.S. pressure. But Kim did not directly mention the possibility of a second nuclear test.