North Korea does not appear to be preparing for a fourth nuclear test, according to the latest information from South Korean officials.

A spokesperson for the country's Defence Ministry said it did not believe their rogue neighbours were conducting nuclear tests, based on its reading of activity around the test site.

The announcement comes after South Korea's unification minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said he had seen signs that North Korea might be preparing a fourth nuclear test.

Tensions have been rising between the two nations in the past weeks after North Korea conducted its third controlled nuclear test back in February. After UN-imposed sanctions for such actions, North Korea has threatened nuclear strikes against the US and declared itself in a 'state of war' with South Korea. North Korea already shut down the emergency hotline between Seoul and Pyongyang, and warned that it would not be able to guarantee the safety of foreign embassy staff in the event of war.

The US already cancelled a scheduled test of its minuteman 3 ballistic missile this weekend over fears it could escalate the diplomatic crisis.

Written and presented by Alfred Joyner