S. Korea keeps close tabs on N. Korea’s possible nuclear test

SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) — South Korea is closely monitoring North Korea over its possible fifth nuclear test this week, a presidential official said Monday.

Presidential spokesman Jeong Yeon-guk did not provide details but said Seoul is keeping very close tabs on developments taking place in the isolationist country.

There has been speculation that Pyongyang may carry out a fifth nuclear test ahead of its founder Kim Il-sung’s birthday, which falls on Friday. The founder is the late grandfather of the country’s current leader, Kim Jong-un.

North Korea has a track record of displaying its military might ahead of key anniversaries. The country carried out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, two days before the birthday of Kim Jong-un.

The North also launched a long-range rocket on Feb. 7, nine days before the birthday of Kim Jong-un’s late father, former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

President Park Geun-hye has warned that North Korea could face even tougher sanctions and isolation should it choose to undertake yet another provocation.

The U.N. Security Council has imposed the toughest-ever sanctions resolution on North Korea for its nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch earlier this year.