BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korea’s Defense Ministry has denied suggestions that a fourth nuclear test was imminent in the DPRK, refuting earlier comments by the unification minister.

Kim Min-Seok, spokesman of South Korean Defense Ministry, said, "There is activity at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, with movement of people and vehicles, but we believe this is routine activity. There are no signs of an imminent nuclear test there."

Earlier, South Korea’s Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae had told lawmakers that there were signs of an imminent DPRK new nuke test, pointing to a rise in activity near the test complex where Pyongyang conducted its previous three nuke tests.

The conflicting statements from Seoul officials come amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Speculation has been mounting that the DPRK will launch a provocative action in coming days - an arms test or a missile launch - after weeks of threats against South Korea and the United States.

(Source: cntv.com)