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North Korea appears ready to conduct another nuclear test around Gilju, North Hamgyeong Province, diplomatic sources in Seoul said Friday. ¡°The North has apparently installed the necessary equipment and facilities to observe the test no more than a few kilometers away from where it conducted the last nuclear test¡± on Oct. 9, a source said. ¡°It seems the only thing it needs to do is push the button.¡± Another source agreed that a second nuclear test within the foreseeable future cannot be ruled out.
South Korea and the U.S. have reportedly kept close eye on North Korea¡¯s movements since fresh six-party talks on the communist country¡¯s nuclear program ended without tangible results last month. As of Friday morning, however, the government has made no statement about the matter.
Earlier, ABC News cited a senior U.S. defense official as saying, ¡°We think they¡¯ve put everything in place to conduct a test without any notice or warning.¡± The U.S. network added, ¡°The official cautions that the intelligence is inconclusive as to whether North Korea will actually go ahead with another test but said the preparations are similar to the step taken by Pyongyang before it shocked the world by conducting its first nuclear test last Oct. 9.¡±
According to ABC News, another official predicted North Korea would conduct a test ¡°some time in the next two or three months.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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