North Korea camouflages nuclear test site
The North said the launch was a scientific mission aimed at placing a satellite in orbit.
SEOUL: North Korea has covered the entrance to a tunnel at its nuclear test site in an apparent effort to avoid satellite monitoring ahead of a widely expected detonation, a report said Friday.
The Punggye-ri site, which has three tunnel entrances and multiple support buildings, has been closely monitored by US, South Korean and Japanese intelligence since North Korea ramped up its test threats just over a week ago.
"Analysis showed a camouflage net looking like a roof was placed on the tunnel entrance," Yonhap News Agency cited a senior South Korean government source as saying.
"The move seems to be aimed at keeping nuclear test preparations -- now near their completion -- from being exposed outside," the source said.
North Korea has threatened to carry out its third nuclear test in response to UN sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for a long-range rocket launch it carried out in December.
The North said the launch was a scientific mission aimed at placing a satellite in orbit, but most of the world saw it as a disguised ballistic missile test.
Yonhap quoted an intelligence source as saying the cover at the test site may be aimed at confusing outside watchers.
"It seems like a disturbance tactic, similar to one that was used when the North prepared the rocket launch," the source said.
The South s intelligence agencies had been embarrassed by the timing of the December launch, partly due to the North s use of camouflage at the launch site.
At one point, diplomatic and military sources suggested the launch was facing a lengthy delay, while some said the rocket had been completely removed from the pad.
The rocket blasted off a day later.
