Intel report: North Korea preps nuclear test amid rocket launch controversy

A North Korean soldier stands in front of the country's Unha-3 rocket, slated for liftoff between April 12-16, at a launching site in Tongchang-ri, North Korea, April 8, 2012. / AP

(CBS/AP) SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean intelligence officials say North Korea is digging a new underground tunnel in what appears to be preparation for a third nuclear test.

A report written by intelligence officials and shared Monday with The Associated Press says recent satellite photos show piles of dirt near the newly excavated tunnel's entrance.

The report says the excavation at the North's northeast Punggye-ri site is in its final stages. Experts say dirt is needed to fill up underground tunnels before a nuclear test.

The report's release comes as North Korea prepares to fire a long-range rocket April 12-16 that Washington and others say is a cover for testing missile technology that could be used to fire on the United States.

North Korea moves controversial missile to launch pad
Analysis shows North Korea near to launch
Sat image shows activity at N. Korea launch site

Ominously, both of North Korea's previous nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009, have come on the heels of rocket launches which were condemned by the international community.

North Korean space officials have now moved all three stages of the rocket into position, and vowed Sunday to push ahead with their plan in defiance of the international warnings against violating a ban on missile activity.

The Associated Press was among foreign news agencies allowed a firsthand look at preparations under way at the coastal Sohae Satellite Station in northwestern North Korea.

North Korea announced plans last month to launch an observation satellite using a three-stage rocket during mid-April celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the birth of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung. The U.S., Japan, Britain and other nations have urged North Korea to cancel the launch, warning that firing the long-range rocket would violate U.N. resolutions and North Korea's promise to refrain from engaging in nuclear and missile activity.

North Korea has tested two atomic devices, but is not believed to have mastered the technology needed to mount a warhead on a long-range missile.

[GeorgeKafantaris]

Forget these fools.
If they can ignore their starving people to conduct expensive missile tests -- when no one is even remotely threatening then -- they deserve no further consideration from any of us.
They can conduct all the missile tests they want with their primitive rocket technology. We ain't scared.
But they had better not cut too many corners as they rush to show off or they will blow themselves up first.

[josephp5]

Funny how the US is making so much noise about Iran (which doesn't even have a nuclear device yet) when we have a country like North Korea (which unlike Iran is ruled by an actual madman) which is actually testing a nuclear device!

Of course, North Korea is very poor, is no threat to Israel, and does not have oil. Perhaps the difference in the two situations lies here.

[GeorgeVeritas]

DO NOT EXPECT the antisocial, schizophrenic North Korean leaders to back down from any of their threats UNTIL Russia and China quit giving them the Big OK by not joining the civilized world against the pending rocket launch, coming underground nuclear test and ongoing dehumanization of its own people.

[venusvegasvada]

Here we go again.

[karek40]

We have all seen the laser 747 (on television) developed by the U.S. It is supposed to be able to shoot down a missle, hope they give it a live test.

[Big-Daddy-Kahuna]

Hope not. That will just make them PO'd and we could have a real nuke headed to S. Korea or the US.