There are fears the tyrant state could launch a new test on September 9, North Korea’s Day of the Foundation of the Republic, a year after it carried out its fifth detonation.
New satellite photos of Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the country’s north east, reveal “minor movement” suggesting the site remains on standby.
Think tank 38 North, which tracks North Korea movements, revealed satellite images where equipment that had not previously been seen had clearly been moved to the facility.
38 North also highlighedt a “possible mining cart”, which could suggest work is ongoing at the site ahead of a potential launch.
The think tank said: “As long as the site remains in standby status, we cannot rule out that a sixth nuclear test could be conducted at any time with minimal advance warning.”
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But it added the images do “not provide observable corroborative evidence that the DPRK is about to conduct another underground nuclear test immediately.”
38 North added: “The DPRK has, since April 2017, continued to maintain the site at a high state of readiness such that it could conduct a test on short notice, whenever the political decision is made to proceed with another test or tests.”
The images come after spy bosses suggested a nuclear detonation at the set “was imminent”.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) monitors the test site by satellite on a daily basis.
And because the bombs are tested underground beneath Mount Mantap, signs of excavation are closely watched for.
Experts believe preparations for two test tunnels have been completed so far – and NIS chief Suh Hoon warned a blast could fall on Saturday September 9.
The date is a national holiday in North Korea, the Day of the Foundation of the Republic, and the same date when Kim last conducted a nuclear test.
South Korea-based reporter Christine Kim said the North wanted to make its nuclear warheads smaller so they could be mounted on a missile.
Miss Kim said: “Experts believe North Korea has secured some technology to make its warheads small but it’s not quite there yet so more testing is needed.
“In order for missiles to fly a long distance, anything attached… would have to be lightweight to ensure the missiles fly for longer and farther.”