A 3.4 magnitude quake has been detected in North Korea, a development that may be a sign that Kim Jong-Un has moved ahead with a fresh nuclear test.
China’s Earthquake Networks Center said that the tremor was caused by a “suspected explosion” near the site that North Korea conducted its last test in September.
The quake was detected at 8.30 GMT at a depth of zero kilometers.
South Korea’s weather agency said it was analysing the nature of the quake and its initial view was that it was a natural earthquake.
If confirmed that the earthquake was caused by a nuclear test, it would be a massive provocation by North Korea just days after Donald Trump threatened to “completely destroy” the country if it did not back down.
The earthquake detected on Saturday was of a 3.4 magnitude, significantly smaller than the 6.3 magnitude quake caused by September’s nuclear test. That would suggest a significantly lower yield than previous explosions and that the bomb was not as powerful.
Tremors were felt in China and Russia from the September explosion which was the biggest bomb to be detonated by North Korea.
More to follow…
