Days after North’s fifth and most powerful nuclear blast to date that drew widespread condemnation.

The South Korean government confirms that the North is always ready for an additional nuclear test and might use a previously unused tunnel at its mountainous test site in Punggye-ri area.

This prompted the South Korea and U.S. senior officials to hold a bilateral defence forum in Seoul today in an annual dialogue between the two countries to discuss several security issues including North Korea’s threat.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told senior military officials that he will not tolerate North Korea having conducted two nuclear tests since the start of the year.

North Korea said on sunday a push for further sanctions following its latest nuclear test was “laughable”, and vowed to continue to strengthen its nuclear power.

North Korea has been testing different types of missiles at an unprecedented rate this year, and the capability to mount a nuclear warhead is worrisome for it’s neighbors South Korea and Japan, and worst, Asia and the world.

(Eric Ferrer / UNTV Correspondent)

Tags: Pyongyang prepared for fresh nuclear test at any time, South Korea