DPRK preparing for 4th nuke test, says S.Korean official

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DRPK) might be preparing for its fourth nuclear test, South Korea's unification minister said Monday.

"I can only say that there are such signs (of the DPRK's new nuke test)," Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told lawmakers at the parliamentary meeting for diplomacy and unification.

His comments came after a lawmaker said there is a rise in movements of personnel and vehicles near the test complex at Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province, citing unspecified sources. The lawmaker asked whether the movement was the sign of the fourth nuke test.

The DPRK conducted its previous three nuke tests at the Punggye- ri test site. The latest occurred on Feb. 12.

Ryoo noted that the question was related to "intelligence" things, declining to comment on details. Enditem