A leading French daily says North Korea is reportedly preparing to conduct another nuclear test to recover from its failed rocket launch earlier this month.

Le Monde said on Thursday that the North is likely to use locally produced enriched uranium in conducting its third nuclear test, noting the North used plutonium for nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.

The daily said if North Korea successfully carries out a third nuclear test, it will likely be able to produce nuclear weapons with greater ease, particularly nuclear warheads that can be attached to missiles.