New activity at N. Korea's test site causes speculation about future testing

By Lim Chang-won Posted : September 13, 2017, 14:40 Updated : September 13, 2017, 15:02

[Yonhap Photo]


North Korea's nuclear test site shows "new activity", suggesting onsite work could now be changing focus to prepare for future underground nuclear testing, according to 38 North, the website of a US research institute.

Satellite imagery from September 8 showed a large tractor/trailer cargo truck in the South Portal area for the first time, and mining carts and other equipment are present outside the West Portal, the website said.

"Such activity, coming shortly after the largest underground nuclear test conducted at Punggye-ri to date, suggests that onsite work could now be changing focus to further prepare those other portals for future underground nuclear testing," it said.

Numerous landslides were seen throughout the test site on the slopes of Mount Mantap and beyond resulting from the September 3 explosion, 38 North said.

An apparent rectangular subsidence "crater" appears in the stratified volcanics at the basalt escarpment lip on the western corner of Mount. Mantap, it said. "This is likely what has been reported as a possible 'collapse chimney crater', but could also just be induced slippage prompted by the massive tremor."

There also appears to be increased water drainage that could be expected to promote the transport of radionuclides to the surface, the website said, adding the yield could be roughly 250 kilotons.

If the claim that the tested device has a variable yield is true, this may imply North Korea intends to adopt an expanded policy of using nuclear weapons, including tactical use, in addition to deterring threats to its existence, 38 North said.

"By doing so, they would join countries such as the United States, Russia, China, Pakistan, etc. that have policies regarding the use of tactical nuclear weapons, clearly further destabilizing the Korean peninsula situation."


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