(VOVworld) - North Korea is ready to conduct an additional nuclear test at any time, South Korea's Defence Ministry said on Monday, three days after the North's fifth test drew widespread condemnation.

South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun (Photo: Yonhap/ VNA)

South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said on Monday that assessment by the South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies shows that the North is potentially ready for an additional nuclear test in the Punggye-ri area, the site of the North's five nuclear explosions.

Mister Moon said 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. Mr. Moon declined to elaborate further but said the South’s military were on full combat readiness to respond to “further nuclear tests, ballistic missile launches or land provocations” by the North.

Also that day, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo would not tolerate North Korea’s acts and that Pyongyang’s two consecutive launches of missiles in September were unacceptable.