South Korea says reports of North Korea preparing for 3rd nuke test 'absurd'

Seoul, Sep. 14 (ANI): South Korea has rejected reports claiming that North Korea is preparing for a third nuclear.

"(We) haven't heard of anything like that, which thus cannot be confirmed," Korea's Yonhap News Agency quoted a senior Chinese Government official, as saying.

Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has reportedly instructed party and military leaders to start preparing for a third nuclear test with the use of enriched uranium.

Kim was quoted as saying that the "emphasized the importance of improvement of nuclear technologies with the aim of attracting the U.S. to direct bilateral talks."

Sources added that the date of nuclear test could be September 20, which marks the official end of the "150-Day Battle."

Another date being speculated as the possible test date is October 10 when the Labor Party of Korea was found. (ANI)