North Korea May Test Nuke This Weekend

Japan's top government spokesman says Tokyo is stepping up monitoring of North Korea amid speculation that the communist nation could carry out a nuclear test as early as this weekend.

"In consideration of various possibilities, we are preparing for whatever may happen," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said Friday, according to The Associated Press.

The speculation comes amid reports the United Nations Security Council members have reached a tentative agreement on a Japanese-drafted statement that warns North Korea of unspecified consequences if it conducts a nuclear test.

The text, obtained by the Reuters news service, is similar to the original, and was negotiated by junior diplomats of the 15 council members. It is being sent to governments for possible changes before further discussions on Friday.

The statement urges Pyongyang to cancel its planned nuclear test and return immediately to six-party talks aimed at persuading the reclusive Communist nation to abandon its nuclear arms program, according to Reuters.

Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi, currently in Washington, said Japan and the United States shared concerns that the North was not bluffing about a nuclear test, and should be prepared for a possible test this weekend, a Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.