South Korea braced Friday for a possible third nuclear test by North Korea, which a U.S. official said might occur despite looming U.N. sanctions on the communist state for its previous test in May, according to AP. Given the North's track record of provocative behavior and defiance of the United Nations, «common sense» indicates that it is preparing for another nuclear test, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said Friday. «Recently, we have braced ourselves against all predictable possibilities regarding nuclear or missile situations,» Won said. However, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified intelligence official as saying there was no immediate indication that North Korea was restoring a test site where its second underground blast took place on May 25. In Washington, a U.S. official said late Thursday that North Korea may be preparing for a third nuclear test. The counterproliferation official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the unreleased information, would not provide details regarding the assessment. A third nuclear test would likely alienate North Korea further from its allies China and Russia, which have agreed with Western nations on imposing new U.N. sanctions to curb the North's weapons exports and financial dealings. They would also allow inspections of suspect cargo in ports and on the high seas.
