North Korea's leader chairs a military meeting amid expectations of a nuclear test

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued to chair a key meeting of the ruling party on its military and defense policies for the second day in a row, state media reported Thursday, amid fears that Pyongyang may conduct an imminent nuclear test.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim stressed the importance of efforts to enhance the operational capabilities of units on the front lines.

The meeting is closely watched because it could provide clues to the timing of the nuclear test, which North Korea is believed to have been preparing for weeks.

South Korean officials said the test could take place "at any time" and that "Kim will decide the date."

But an official with the presidential office in Seoul said on Wednesday that he believed Pyongyang might postpone what could be its seventh nuclear test in light of political activities taking place in China and the situation regarding the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

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