North Korea’s nuclear Experiment site collapse down?

North Korea’s nuclear Experiment site collapse down?

After North Korea conducted its sixth and largest nuclear experiment in September, signs have emerged that its test site in Punggye-Ri may be falling apart.

A series of earthquakes, which is unusual in the area, have been recorded, while a massive tunnel collapse at the site was also detected. Japan’s Asahi TV on Tuesday reported that at least 200 people died and about 100 people were trapped inside in the collapsed tunnel, without providing information on when it happened.

The news follows Seoul’s weather agency Korea Meteorological Administration chief, Nam Ja-Cheol’s remarks that another detonation could possibly prompt a collapse of the test site and spill radioactive materials, during a parliamentary audit here on Monday.

“Based on our analysis of satellite imagery, we judge that there is a hollow space, which measures about 60 to 100 meters (in length), at the bottom of Mount Mantap at the Punggye-Ri site,” Nam told lawmakers. “So, should another nuke test occur, there is the possibility (of a collapse).”

Concerned about nuclear waste contamination, Chinese scientists reportedly warned Pyongyang to relocate the test site, as the mountain range about 80 kilometers away from the North Korea-China border is at risk of collapse, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post said. If the site deteriorates, the nuclear waste spill may seep through the border and spoil Chinese soil.

North Korea’s sixth and latest nuclear test on Sept. 3, which is also referred to as its strongest yet, may have dealt a heavy blow to its topography. The South Korean Meteorological Administration said the test caused an artificial magnitude 5.7 earthquakes, while the US Geological Survey and the Chinese government measured a seismic activity of 6.3. Smaller tremors followed, which many saw as aftershocks of the detonation.

But the US think tank claimed that “for the time being,” Pyongyang has no plans to abandon the Punggye-Ri test site, “given the presence of additional test portals.” Although substantial damage to the tunnels is suspected, similar nuclear tests conducted at the US Nevada Test Site and former Soviet nuclear test sites did not lead to site abandonment, an analysis by 38 North, at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said.

Meanwhile, experts here expressed doubt over the possibility of a North Korean provocation triggered by the signs of its crumbling test site, to sustain the current level of tension — despite its longest hiatus in military provocations in recent months. “North Korea currently has two options regarding military provocations — launching an intercontinental ballistic missile test or nuclear test,” Koh Yoo-hwan, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University said.

“However, if its nuclear test site (of Punggye-Ri) is exhausted there won’t be another nuclear experiment any time soon,” he said. Source: Nation