US suspects North Korea may try second test

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) The United States would not be surprised if North Korea attempts a second nuclear test in order to be provocative, the White House said today.

Amid reports of activity near the site of North Korea's first nuclear test, White House spokesman Tony Snow would not discuss US intelligence but said: ''Well, let me put it this way. The North Koreans have made no secret of their desire to be provocative. The first test, while nuclear, did have a low yield and perhaps it would not be unreasonable to expect that the North Koreans would like to try to something again.'' ''It would not be a good thing for them, but it certainly would not be out of character,'' he added.

US intelligence officials said yesterday they had determined that the underground blast last week in North Korea was a nuclear test.

Snow said it would be reasonable to expect that a second test would be aimed at testing the will of the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the parties engaged in long-stalled talks with North Korea -- the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.

REUTERS BDP VV1904