Anchor: The U.S.-based North Korea monitoring Web site 38 North said it has detected multiple signs that indicate North Korea is preparing for an impending sixth nuclear test. New satellite pictures show activity at the site leading experts to believe that preparations for a test may be in the final stages.
Our Park Jong-hong has the details.
 
Report: Fresh satellite pictures suggest that North Korea is nearly ready for another nuclear test according to the U.S.-based North Korea monitoring Web site 38 North.
 
Joseph Bermudez and Jack Liu, regular contributors to 38 North, made the claim in an analysis article on Tuesday based on satellite imagery capturing the North’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site since March 25th.
 
They said the satellite images showed three to four vehicles or equipment trailers at the entrance to the North Portal and evidence that communication cable may have been laid.
 
They speculated that such equipment would likely be used to initiate the test, collect data from the explosion and process the data.
 
The article added there is no significant activity at the other areas of the test site. The lack of activity may mean that test preparations are in their final stages.
 
However it cautioned against officially declaring that a nuclear test is imminent as the North could use such activity for deception.
 
In a separate article on Tuesday, 38 North also claimed it observed continued activities at several key facilities at the North’s Yongbyon nuclear plant site related to the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. 
 
The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the signs of test preparations but it called on North Korea to refrain from provocative actions that threaten international peace and stability.
Park Jong-hong KBS World Radio News.
 

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