[BREAKING NEWS]North Korean nuclear test suspected as 'artificial earthquake' detected

South Korean, US, Chinese and European agencies all detect seismic activity close to the North’s nuclear testing area


North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches artillery practice on Tuesday. A large earth tremor has been felt near the country’s nuclear testing site. Photograph: KCNA/Reuters

Wednesday 6 January 2016 02.43 GMT

An earthquake near a known nuclear testing site in North Korea that appears to have been artificially made has been detected by several monitoring agencies.

The United States Geological Service reported a 5.1 magnitude quake on Wednesday that South Korea said was 49km (30 miles) from the Punggye-ri site where the North has conducted nuclear tests in the past.

An official from the South Korean meteorological administration said: “We suspect a man-made earthquake and are analysing the scale and epicentre of the quake with the geoscience and mineral resource institute of South Korea.”

While the USGS put the depth of the earthquake at 10km, the South Korean agency said it was near the surface. The earthquake was detected just after 10am Seoul time (1am GMT).


An intensity shake map released by the US Geological Survey 5 January shows the location where a preliminary 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck in North Korea. Photograph: USGS / HANDOUT/EPA

North Korea planned a major announcement later on Wednesday, likely at 3.30 GMT, South Korean media said.

South Korea’s presidential office convened an emergency security meeting while Japan’s chief government spokesman said the earthquake was likely caused by a nuclear test.

The Pentagon said it was investigating the reports. North Korea is known to have conducted three nuclear tests and is under UN sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre also said it had noticed unusual seismic activity in North Korea but it was not clear whether North Korea had conducted its fourth nuclear test.

The European agency measured the magnitude of the seismic activity at 5.1 on its website on Wednesday.


The China earthquake network centre said it had detected a “suspected explosion” in North Korea at a depth of “zero kilometres and a magnitude of 4.9”.

The notice was similar to one given by China in February 2013 following an earthquake in North Korea which turned out to have been caused by a nuclear test. The last North Korean nuclear test, in 2013, registered at 5.1 on the USGS.

Beijing is a close ally of Pyongyang but relations have become more strained in recent years, in part because of the North’s persistence with its nuclear programme in the face of international condemnation. China condemned the 2013 nuclear test.

theguardian