SEOUL, April 8 (UPI) -- Satellite imagery indicates North Korea is preparing to test a nuclear bomb, an intelligence official in South Korea said Sunday.
The view from space captured construction work on a tunnel in the same area of northeastern North Korea where two previous underground nuclear tests occurred in 2006 and 2009.
"North Korea is making clandestine preparations for a third nuclear test at Punggye-ri in North Hamkyong Province, where it conducted two nuclear tests in the past," the official told the Yonhap news service on condition of anonymity.
The tunnel project, which was observed by a commercial satellite, appeared nearly complete and included large piles of dirt that analysts believe will be used to fill in the tunnel once the weapon is in place, the report said.
The revelation comes as North Korea prepares to launch a long-range missile later this month. Yonhap said past nuclear tests have followed missile tests.
Pyongyang has said the missile launch will carry a satellite into orbit; however, South Korea and its allies consider the story a cover for a missile test launch, which would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution.
