(VOVworld) – South Korean President Park Geun-hye warned on Thursday that North Korea could conduct a nuclear test anytime prior to the 7^th Workers Party Congress early next month. Park added that once the North pushes ahead with another nuclear test, this would be a seriously provocative behavior that would shake the security order of Northeast Asia and the South would never condone it. She ordered the government to gear up efforts in response to any provocations from the North in order to maintain national security.

Participants set the portraits of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a rally denouncing North Korea's nuclear test and missiles in Seoul. (Photo: AP)

Analysts have anticipated that the North might conduct another nuclear test at its northeastern Punggye-ri site.