By Zachary Keck
While the possibility cannot be ruled out, there’s little reason to believe another nuclear test is imminent.
On Tuesday a senior South Korean lawmaker warned that a number of signs suggest that North Korea is preparing for another long-range missile and fourth nuclear test.
Yonhap News Agency reports that at a meeting of the ruling Saenuri Party, Rep. Cho Won-jin, a ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, suggested that another long-range rocket and nuclear test might be conducted in order to shift domestic attention away from the purge of Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of current leader Kim Jong-Un and formerly the second most powerful man in Pyongyang.
Cho did not elaborate on what these signs were making it unclear if there is actual technical evidence that North Korea is preparing for another missile or nuclear test. In recent months, South Korean leaders have said that Pyongyang is ready to conduct a fourth nuclear test and could do so in short order once a decision is made to take this action. South Korean President Park Geun-hye has also warned about possible provocations coming from the North following the purge.
Read the full story at The Diplomat