SEOUL, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Special tunnels being dug in North Korea mean "it's obvious" Pyongyang is preparing for another nuclear weapons test, a source told Yonhap News Agency Sunday.
The South Korean news agency reported the tunnels are being dug at a nuclear test site in Punggye-ri in North Hamgyong province where the North conducted two plutonium-fueled nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
"South Korea and U.S. intelligence authorities have spotted the North building a couple of additional tunnels in Punggye-ri," an unnamed government source said. "It's obvious that North Korea is preparing for a third nuclear test."
The source said the North is building more than one tunnel so it can choose the best one for the test. There was no indication when the North would be ready to conduct another nuclear test.
"It's unclear whether the North will conduct a plutonium-fueled nuclear test or uranium-fueled one," the source said. "But it's likely to opt for the plutonium-based program as it has already revealed the existence of a modern uranium enrichment facility and expects strong opposition from China."
Pyongyang disclosed in November it has a uranium enrichment program but maintains it is for peaceful energy development. The South and other nations are concerned it could be turned to weapons development to augment its known plutonium-based weapons program.
Yonhap also reported the North has finished building a launch site on its western coast near the Chinese border where it is believe it will test-fire ballistic missiles that could reach the U.S. mainland.
"The Joint Chiefs of Staff is mapping out programs to deal with the North's third nuclear test, long-range missile launch and hovercraft attacks," a military source told Yonhap.
"We are closely watching its new missile launch site in Dongchang-ri and the Punggye-ri nuclear test site."
