Japan’s Sekai Nippo daily reports North Korea is preparing for a second underground nuclear test.

An official from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told the paper that Pyongyang wants to affirm its status as a nuclear power since its October 2006 blast was relatively small and produced incomplete results.

But the official added that, due to shortages in raw materials, the North is having difficulties reactivating its nuclear facilities and reprocessing spent fuel rods.