South Korea's intelligence agency has told the country's lawmakers that North Korea is ready for its seventh nuclear test.

The National Intelligence Service gave the assessment at a closed-door briefing to a parliamentary intelligence committee on Thursday.

According to lawmakers who received the briefing, an NIS official said the North has completed preparations at the Punggye-ri test facility for its 7th nuclear test and is gauging its timing. The country's last test was in September 2017.

The official also said there are signs that North Korea could launch a missile even though the country is grappling with a coronavirus outbreak.
The official added that the agency says the outbreak will likely peak between late May and early June.

The North reported its first infections last week, after claiming to be coronavirus-free for more than two years.