North Korea May Be Preparing Fifth Nuclear Test

North Korea may be preparing for its fifth nuclear test, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on Monday.

Park said the South has detected signs of further tests but did not elaborate on what that might mean. She did instruct the military to be ready for any further provocation.

A fifth test would be further defiance of sanctions imposed last month by the United Nations.

"We are in a situation in which we cannot predict what provocations North Korea might conduct to break away from isolation and to consolidate the regime," Park told her top aides, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier this year, North Korea conducted its fourth atomic test and rocket launch. Experts speculate the fifth test will come before North Korea holds its ruling Communist Party Congress in early May.

North Korea is not believed to have the technology to mount a nuclear device on an intercontinental ballistic missile, but its weapons program has made progress over the last several years.