SHOCK new satellite images from North Korea reveal trigger-happy Kim Jong-un is to risk sparking World War 3 – with another huge nuke launch.

Insiders in the region say the launch – planned for as early as Monday – is aimed at showing the world that the despot will not be told what to do by the West.

Kim's secret launch plans were exposed by satellite images which reveal an increase in activity at the country's known test site, according to 38 North, a US-based monitoring company.

The rogue state has already carried out two nuclear bomb tests this year – in January and September – and experts say it is capable of carrying out a third as soon as potty Kim gives the order.

Past nuclear tests, and missile launches, have often coincided with special political dates.

Last month's mega-nuke test took place on the anniversary of North Korea's founding as a state, and the country will celebrate a similar milestone on Monday with the 71st anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party.

North Korea has already been hit by five lots of UN sanctions since it first tested a nuclear device in 2006, but has insisted it will continue.

And world leaders have said they fear any more nuke tests could push the region into an all-out war.

The yield from September's test was estimated at 10 kilotons – the largest so far and almost twice as much as the device detonated in January.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency today quoted an unidentified foreign ministry official who raised the prospect of another test to mark the Workers' Party anniversary next week.

"We believe that the North is ready to carry out a nuclear test and all it needs is political determination," the official said.

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"Chances are high that the North will conduct its sixth nuclear detonation or test-fire a ballistic missile ahead of the anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party and the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) scheduled in the US later this month," the official said.

"Starting today, the military will maintain heightened vigilance against any provocations by the North," he said.

The 38 North group, run by Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, said there was activity at all three tunnel complexes at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site involving a large vehicle and personnel.

"One possible reason for this activity is to collect data on the Sept. 9 test although other purposes cannot be ruled out, such as sealing the portal or other preparations related to a new test," the group said, referring to the last nuclear test.

North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006 and has since then defied UN sanctions and rejected international talks to press ahead with the development of the weapons and missiles to carry them, which it says it needs for its defence.

In January, it conducted its fourth nuclear test and last month its fifth and biggest, on the anniversary of the nation's founding.

The United States and South Korea are pushing for tighter sanctions against North Korea by closing loopholes left in a UN Security Council resolution in March.

Last month, the North said it had successfully conducted a ground test of a new rocket engine that would be used to launch satellites. South Korea said the engine could be used for a long-range missile.

North Korea last month fired three missiles that flew about 1,000 km (600 miles). In August, it tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile that international experts said showed considerable progress.

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