A TV screen at a train station in Seoul shows a news program reporting on North Korea's missile launch with file footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, May 4. North Korea may be preparing to stage a nuclear test as early as this month, a state department spokesperson said Friday. AP-Yonhap

North Korea may be preparing to stage a nuclear test as early as this month, a state department spokesperson said Friday.

Jalina Porter said the U.S. has also shared the information with allies and partners.

"The United States assesses that the DPRK is preparing its Punggye-ri test site and could be ready to conduct a test there as early as this month, which would be its seventh test," the principal deputy spokesperson said in a telephone press briefing.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.