By Hwang Sung-Hee
North Korea is ready to conduct another nuclear test at any time, South Korea's defence ministry said Monday, just days after Pyongyang sparked worldwide condemnation with its fifth and most powerful test.
The North has said the test has realised its goal of being able to fit a miniaturised warhead on a rocket, prompting urgent talks at the UN Security Council and calls for new sanctions.
"An additional test could be conducted in a tunnel that branches off from the second tunnel or in the third tunnel, where preparations have been completed," said ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun.
He said the South's military is on full combat-readiness to respond to "further nuclear tests, ballistic missile launches or land provocation".
All five nuclear tests have been conducted at the Punggye-ri site in the country's northeast. The initial one in October 2006 was in the first tunnel and the last four in the second tunnel, according to Seoul's defence ministry.
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