SEOUL, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Activities have been spotted near North Korea's nuclear site, but these are not immediate signs of a second test, Seoul officials said Friday.
The Foreign Ministry also said the North is unlikely to conduct another nuclear test in the near future, stressing the need of resumption of the six-nation talks on the North's nuclear drive.
The comment followed reports by U.S. television network ABC that the North appeared to have made preparations for a second nuclear test, saying these are similar to the steps the country took before its first nuclear test in October.
"Some unidentified activities have been detected (near the nuclear site), but there are no signs directly linked to a nuclear test," Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Hee-yong told United Press International.
But he refused to reveal what the unidentified activities were. A diplomatic source here said the activities are personnel movements, ruling out the ABC report of unloading large amounts of cables.
"We are preparing for any situations, including a possible nuclear test in the North," Cho said. "The six-party talks should be resumed as early as possible to resolve the nuclear problem," he added.
The latest round of six-way talks ended late last month in Beijing without an agreement due to a clash between the United States and North Korea over the financial sanctions.
