North Korea has trialled a "nuclear detonation device", a senior South Korean presidential official said Wednesday, adding that a nuclear test could be imminent.

US and South Korean officials have warned for weeks that Pyongyang may conduct a seventh nuclear test, and on Wednesday it test-fired three missiles, including possibly its largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-17.

The latest launch comes just days after US President Joe Biden left South Korea Sunday.

Despite struggling with a recent Covid-19 outbreak, the isolated country has resumed construction at a long-dormant nuclear reactor, new satellite imagery has indicated.

"Operational tests of a nuclear detonation device in preparation for a seventh nuclear test are now being detected," said Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of the National Security Office.

These experiments were being carried out away from the North's key nuclear testing site, which was being closely monitored by Seoul, he said.

"The North Korean authorities are imminently near the final preparation stage for a nuclear test of a scale and quality they want," Kim told reporters.

"The possibility of an imminent nuclear test in the next day or two is low, but after that, there is certainly a possibility," he added.

The presidential office did not give any further details on the detonation device.

Kim's comments came hours after Pyongyang fired what Seoul said were three ballistic missiles, including at least one ICBM.

He said "it was judged that the first launch was of the new ICBM, the Hwasong-17", which North Korea has tried unsuccessfully to test-fire before.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently doubled down on his programme of military modernisation, with the nuclear-armed country carrying out nearly 20 sanctions-busting weapons tests this year.

Analysts have warned Kim could speed up nuclear testing plans to distract North Korea's population from the disastrous coronavirus outbreak.

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Biden arrives in Japan with no response on outreach to North Korea
Tokyo (AFP) May 22, 2022
President Joe Biden arrived Sunday in Japan for the second leg of an Asia trip underlining US commitment to the region but overshadowed by concern that North Korea will test a nuclear weapon after ignoring Washington's attempt at outreach. Biden, making his first trip to Asia as president, flew from South Korea into Yokota Air Base outside Tokyo, where he will meet with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and emperor on Monday, as well as unveiling a US-led multilateral trade initiative. On Tue ... read more