The comments came after a 5.3-magnitude quake was detected near North Korea's Pyunggye-ri nuclear test site as the country celebrates its foundation day.
"There is a high possibility that it was a nuclear test, given the location and the magnitude of the quake," said the unidentified official quoted by Yonhap.
Seoul's meteorological agency also said the tremor, detected by quake monitors around the world including the US and Europe, was "likely a nuclear test", according to Yonhap.
If confirmed, it would be the fifth atomic test by the isolated North. The latest test was staged in January at the same site at Punggye-ri.
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