N. Korea Almost Ready For 5th Nuclear Test, S. Korea Says

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's president said Tuesday that North Korea has almost completed preparations for a fifth nuclear test, and the country has reportedly placed a new midrange missile on standby for an impending launch.

North Korea said two days ago it had successfully test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine in a continuation of its weapons tests during ongoing South Korea-U.S. military drills. Seoul officials said they could not confirm whether Saturday's test-firing was a success.

Meeting with senior South Korean journalists, President Park Geun-hye said South Korea believes North Korea can conduct a nuclear test anytime it decides to do so. She didn't elaborate on why South Korea made such an assessment.

Other South Korean officials have made similar recent comments without elaborating amid media reports of increased activity at the country's main nuclear test site. Park said last week there were signs North Korea was preparing for a new nuclear test.

Read more: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2016/04/26/0426-koreas-tensions.html