N.Korea prepping for 3rd nuclear test: source

North Korea is believed to be preparing for a nuclear test at its test site of Punggye-ri in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, a source on North Korea said Sunday. The source said satellite images showed digging of a new underground tunnel at the Punggye-ri site, which had two existing tunnels, adding that the construction was believed to be in the final stages. Pyongyang conducted its two previous nuclear tests at the site, first in October 2006 and then in May 2009. Images taken by a U.S. commercial satellite April 1 show a new tunnel being dug in the southern part of the site, which has existing tunnels on its eastern and western parts. The images also show piles of earth and sand at the entrance of the new tunnel. The soil is believed to have been brought to the site from other places, and the volume is said to have been increasing since last month. “Considering that the North plug tunnels with soil as part of final steps before carrying out a nuclear test, it will likely to conduct the test using the excuse of international pressure after its planned long-range rocket launch,” the source said. North Korea conducted its first nuclear test on Oct. 9, 2006, three months after the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1695 against Pyongyang`s launch of a long-range missile. The North`s second nuclear test came on May 25, 2009, a month after it launched a long-range rocket that it claimed was an artificial satellite.