[Yonhap Photo]
The chief of South Korea's weather agency said Monday that should North Korea detonate another nuclear device, it could trigger a collapse of its mountainous test site and a leak of radioactive materials.
Nam Jae-cheol, the chief of the Korea Meteorological Administration, made the remarks during a parliamentary audit amid reports over a possible implosion at the Punggye-ri site in the North's northeastern region where it has carried out six nuke tests since 2006.
"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 in the Punggye-ri site," he said. "So, should another nuke test occur, there is the possibility (of a collapse)."
Asked if an earthquake would trigger a release of radioactive materials, Nam said, "Should it sink, there is a possibility." On Friday, the Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post reported that Chinese geologists warned a North Korean delegation last month of a possible implosion at the North's nuclear test facility.
It also said that a day after the North conducted its sixth and most powerful nuke test on Sept. 3, a senior Chinese nuclear scientist said additional tests could blow the top off the mountain in the test site, and that radioactive waste could come out from the cracks.
(Yonhap)
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
