Another NKorea nuclear test likely: US general

Seoul, Jan 9: North Korea is likely to test another nuclear device, the commander of US military in South Korea said today, but he declined to comment on reports that an explosion was imminent.

South Korean officials have said activity had been spotted near a suspected nuclear test site in North Korea but there was no evidence to suggest Pyongyang was about to test again. The North conducted its first test in October.

''There is no reason to believe that at some time in the future, when it serves their purposes, that they won't test another one,'' General B B Bell told a news conference.

''So I suspect some day they will,'' Bell said.

The US and South Korean military were fully capable of deterring North Korean aggression, and the combined forces would respond swiftly to thwart any North Korean attack, he said.

North Korea said on October 9 it had successfully conducted a nuclear test and the isolated Stalinist state has since repeatedly said it was boosting its nuclear deterrent against a possible US attack. The United States denies it has any intention of attacking the North.

REUTERS

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